A day after Perkasa Youth complained about plans to open a Hard Rock Café branch in the administrative capital, Putrajaya Corporation now says they will reject any such proposal

The change in tune comes after Putrajaya Corporation president Aseh Che Mat ( below ) said in a report in The Star this morning that "the plan was still in the early stages and no decision had been made" on the Putrajaya outlet of the world famous restaurant-pub chain.

"Even if the proposal is approved in the future, Putrajaya Corporation will consider the sensitivities of the local community and give priority to preserving Putrajaya as the federal government’s administrative centre," he was reported saying in an earlier press statement.

However Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia 's online edition today reported Aseh announcing that no such plans will be considered.

In a short two-paragraph report titled ' Confirmed No Hard Rock Café in Putrajaya ', he was quoted telling reporters after traffic monitoring exercise this morning that he will return any such application to the applicant.

Perkasa's Youth wing had objected to the plan on grounds that it would soil the Islamic motif of the administrative capital.

'Putrajaya no place for pub'

In a press release yesterday, Perkasa Youth head Irwan Fahmi Ideris said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had based Putrajaya on Medina, whereby a mosque was the centrepiece of the city.

"Thus, it is wrong for a city based on Islam to be tarnished by a restaurant-cum-bar that serves liquor openly and provides 'wild' entertainment," he said.

Irwan (right) said Putrajaya Corporation should consider alternative ways to attract investment and tourists and not adopt measures that will affect the comfort and morality of the locals.

"Not only would Hard Rock Cafe cause moral decay, but it is incompatible with Putrajaya's function as an administrative capital," he said.

Earlier, Bernama reported that tycoon Syed Yusof Syed Nasir plans to open the Hard Rock Cafe outlet at Menara Ikhlas, Precinct 3. This will be the fifth Hard Rock Cafe in the country after Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu.

Aseh Che Mat was reported saying Hard Rock Cafe Putrajaya will begin operations within four months.

"It will be a new attraction for the people, especially the younger generation, as well as Harley Davidson motorbike buffs," he said on Saturday, according to Bernama .

After Perkasa's statement, Aseh was reported denying that his organisation had received any "official application" over the outlet.

However in the statement published by The Star he admitted having met Syed Yusof over the latter's plans for Putrajaya, that included Hard Rock Café Putrajaya.