The Chow Kit Road 2.0 Concert scheduled for the National Day celebrations from Aug 29 to 31 at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, will be known as Memori Chow Kit Road.  

Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said this was because the word ‘concert’ will give a different connotation, which may affect sensitivities at a time when people were mourning the MH17 air tragedy although the official mourning period had ended.

“We have screened all the songs. We will make sure the songs are ballads, slow, patriotic and religious.

“The event will be monitored because we want it to go on in the future,” he told reporters after the launch of the ‘ Kod QR Buku Kuiz Mega: Penguasaan Lengkap Fakta-Fakta Kenegaraan ’ on nationhood in Putrajaya today.  

Previously, several quarters had asked for the event to be cancelled as a mark of respect for the victims of the MH17 and MH370 tragedies.

Ahmad Shabery said the event was in the original plan when choosing the theme for this year's celebration, ‘ Malaysia: Di sini Lahirnya Sebuah Cinta ’ (Malaysia: Here Lies a Love), which was one of Sudirman Arshad’s songs.

He said the name Memori Chow Kit Road was picked in memory of a free concert held by the popular entertainer at Chow Kit Road, which had indirectly united the people.

“Sudirman was a singer who made an impact on Malaysians. He not only sang pop songs for entertainment, but also boosted the people’s spirit through patriotic songs like 'Tanggal 31 Ogos' and 'Warisan',” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked regarding the moment of silence for MH17 victims, Ahmad Shabery said the directive only applied at the Bunga Raya Complex, KLIA, where the remains were received and on the Day of National Mourning last Friday.

“We no longer ask the country to give a moment’s silence each time remains are sent back. It is only symbolic. We sympathise at all times,” he said.

- Bernama