Alternative Merdeka Day celebration 'F***MErde-ka NITE' is not meant to be disrespectful of the nation's independence, said its organisers.

Although its controversial theme has made it the subject of a police investigation, the organisers plan to carry on with the event, slated to be held tomorrow in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

Principal organiser and former Internal Security Act detainee Hishamudin Rais said today the event will be an avenue for those who cannot afford to celebrate independence day in a grand manner.

"It is not an anti-Merdeka or obscene event as perceived by the authorities. I wrote a poem in conjunction with the event. It was merely a play on words. I used the word Merde-heka ..."

According to Hishamuddin, the word merde means 'excreta' in French.

"The poem is about anti-dope (drugs), anti-alcoholism, anti all this and more. I would encourage the critics to look more carefully at the poem before making accusations," he said when contacted.

No sense of humour

In a report today, Malay tabloid Kosmo described the event as extreme and quoted Brickfields deputy police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed as saying that it will be monitored.

Commenting on this, a bemused Hishamuddin said: "These people don't have a sense of humour. They claimed (in the article) that the poem and the event encourages sex and immoral activities. Come on, it doesn't take a poem to encourage such things!"

Hishamuddin said the event will be purely entertainment-based with the programme boasting performances by foreign and local bands, as well as famous poets performing in their respective genres.

"There will be a local blind singer, two bands from Singapore and poets. We will go ahead with the event," he added.

"The police have not contacted us. Anyway, it is a private function and for invited guests and we won't be breaking any laws."

In the past, the same organisers have successfully hosted artistic events providing a space for budding entertainers to excel.

"These type of private functions are being conducted everywhere. It's no big deal. There is no need for a police permit," he said in response to Arjunaidi's statement that entertainment events should not breach the conditions of the permit.

Although malaysiakini shares the premises where the event is due to take place, it nevertheless plays no role in organising the celebration.