Dr Mahathir Mohamad sees no harm in Hard Rock Cafe opening an outlet in Putrajaya, provided that performances held there are not obscene.

Stressing that entertainment is not against the administrative capital’s concept, the former premier said, however, that there should not be liquor shops or lewd shows.

"During the New Year's Eve celebration, there were close to 100,000 people, mostly Malays, who were entertained with songs and dances.

"They would not have come if there was no entertainment," Mahathir says in his blog.

The former prime minister was responding to the debate on whether Hard Rock Cafe should be allowed to open an outlet in Putrajaya.

Mahathir said Hard Rock Cafe and other entertainment outlets can operate there as long as these places adhere to the guidelines.

"We need entertainment. Even wedding ceremonies there have no prohibition on entertainment. Why not entertainment outlets and restaurants?" he asked.

Mahathir, who has never frequented a Hard Rock Cafe outlet before, said Putrajaya should not just be the location for government buildings.

"I propose that restaurants and shops as well as light entertainment be allowed," he added.

Mahathir also noted that Putrajaya’s design is based on Champs Elysees in Paris and its main boulevard.

Yesterday, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor suggested that Hard Rock Cafe should not serve alcohol and allows nasyid groups to perform should it open an outlet in Putrajaya.

   

However, Hard Rock International later clarified that it has no intention of setting up any new outlet in Malaysia.