PAS vice-president Husam Musa said his election campaign in Putrajaya had thought him that its residents are yearning for religious schools and parking, rather than a Hard Rock Cafe outlet.
 
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, Husam said this was the most often heard request when he was campaigning as PAS' candidate for the Putrajaya parliamentary seat last May.
 
"During my campaign, the number one request were for religious schools - not an excellent one, but just one in every precinct for convenience.
 
"Another complaint was the need for more parkings. Not a single person asked for a Hard Rock cafe," he said.
 
Earlier, the Putrajaya Corporation announced that Hard Rock Cafe was making its way to Putrajaya in a few months, triggering condemnation from conservative groups. 
 
Critics claim that the restaurant, which serves alcohol and functions as a concert venue, was unsuitable for Islamic-themed Putrajaya.

Was it Paris, or Medinah?

 
Following this, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor responded by stating that Hard Rock Cafe must follow certain conditions to operate in Putrajaya.
 
He even jokingly stated Hard Rock Cafe can have an Islamic theme as well as hosting Nasyid performances .
 
However, Husam could not see anything funny with the joke.
 
"Where in the world can one find a Hard Rock Cafe that does not serve alcohol or have live performances?" he asked.
 
He added that despite former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently claiming that Putrajaya was modeled after Paris , the man had claimed it to be based on an Islamic concept when it first started.
 
"Paris has excellent public transport, I do not see that feature here. He (Mahathir) is now changing his (claim) from Medinah to Paris simply to justify the Hard Rock Cafe," he said.
 
Husam was coy on whether he would contest in Putrajaya again in the next general election, but stressed that the seat must be captured by Pakatan Rakyat in the next polls.