Rihanna postpones Friday's concert

R&B star Rihanna postponed a concert in Malaysia's capital, organisers said Tuesday, after pulling out of the recent Grammy awards following an allegation of domestic violence involving her boyfriend.

The Malaysian organisers, Pineapple Concerts, said the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles had told them Friday's concert would be rescheduled.

It did not refer to the alleged assault, but said that "in light of recent events involving Rihanna", a new date would be set within two weeks.

Rihanna's Concert in Kuala Lumpur Postponed

Organizers have confirmed that Rihanna's concert in Kuala Lumpur (Friday, 02/13/09 –ed.) will be rescheduled due to recent events involving the singer.

According Razman Razali, Managing Director of Pineapple Concerts Sdn Bhd, a new date for the event will be confirmed two weeks from now.

Pineapple also confirmed that the concert has not been cancelled merely postponed, advising ticket buyers to hold on to their tickets and wait for a future announcement regarding the replacement date.

"We sincerely regret this unavoidable shift in schedule and apologise to the fans for any inconvenience caused."

The singer, who reportedly was attacked by boyfriend Chris Brown, also pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday evening.

19 year-old performer Chris Brown handed himself in to police custody after the incident. According to a USA Today article, Brown was released after posting $50,000 bail on a felony charge of suspicion of making criminal threats.

The bad publicity has already cost Brown a lucrative deal with Wrigley's Doublemint gum, to promote its product in an upcoming commercial campaign, which the company has suspended.

Good Love Gone Bad : For more on Chris and Rihanna, click here. -- Johanan Sen, MSN - Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Malaysia's conservative Islamic party PAS had called for Rihanna's performance, part of the "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour, to be banned because her outfits were too sexy.

The 20-year-old Barbados-born singer had been due to perform early in the Grammy Awards on Sunday before organizers abruptly announced her withdrawal just before the event.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman neither confirmed nor denied that Rihanna was the victim in an alleged domestic violence incident on Sunday involving her boyfriend, singer-songwriter Chris Brown. – Agence France-Presse - 2/10/2009 10:24 AM GMT

Rihanna too sexy for Malaysiakini

Malaysia's conservative Islamic party has called for R&B sensation Rihanna to be banned from performing here next month, saying her outfits are too sexy, a report said Wednesday.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS), which has mounted protests against the United States over its support of Israel, said that concertgoers would also contribute to an outflow of local currency to the United States.

"Whether Rihanna realises it or not, we know that the taxes she has paid also contributed to the war in Gaza," Kamaruzaman Mohamad, a PAS youth wing leader, told the Star daily.

Kamaruzaman said that the show planned for February 13, part of Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour, would be an insult to Asian values as she often performed suggestively and wore skimpy outfits.

The event was "akin to insulting Eastern culture, belittling local artistes, internationally causing losses to the country's economy and supporting Israel's war policy, which is supported by America," he said.

Kamaruzaman urged authorities who issue concert permits in Muslim-majority Malaysia to reject the organiser's application.

The concert's sponsor told the daily that Rihanna has agreed to follow local regulations for her performance but did not give details.

US singer Beyonce scrapped a planned concert in Malaysia last year due to fears of protests, while Gwen Stefani went ahead with a performance but was forced to cover up after complaints about her outfits.

PAS also mounted protests against Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne's concert last year after failing to have it banned, saying her performance would weaken the younger generation "morally and mentally." -- Agence France-Presse - 1/21/2009 4:11 AM GMT

PAS bantah konsert Rihanna 13 Februari

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia:
Dewan Pemuda PAS membantah penganjuran konsert Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur pada 13 Februari ini atas alasan ia tidak sesuai dengan budaya tempatan dan sentimen menghormati rakyat Palestin.

Ketua Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan, Kamaruzaman Mohamad berkata, pihaknya akan menghantar memorandum bantahan dalam tempoh terdekat kepada syarikat telekomunikasi tempatan, Celcom (M) Berhad yang menaja penganjuran konsert tersebut.

KETUA Pegawai Eksekutif Celcom, Datuk Seri Shazali Ramly pada sidang akhbar berhubung penajaan penganjuran konsert "Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur" di ibu negara semalam. - foto The Star oleh LOW LAY PHON

"Penganjuran konsert ini menunjukkan Celcom tidak sensitif dengan budaya ketimuran kerana keperibadian penyanyi tersebut boleh merosakkan akhlak masyarakat di negera kita khusunya golongan remaja," katanya kepada mStar Online.

Tambah beliau, tingkah laku serta cara berpakaian penyanyi antarabangsa itu sangat bertentangan dengan gaya hidup timur dan amalan umat Islam.

"Dalam konsert-konsertnya sebelum ini beliau mempamerkan aksi yang cukup tidak elok dengan budaya kita serta boleh melalaikan," kata beliau.

Selain itu menurutnya, bantahan tersebut juga berasaskan kepada perkembangan terkini apabila rakyat disaran supaya memboikot produk-produk Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang selama ini menjadi sekutu kepada kekejaman Israel ke atas rakyat Palestin.

"Kita perlu boikot bukan sahaja produk malah artis-artis mereka bagi mengelakkan pengaliran wang ke AS.

"Kita sibuk menderma untuk tabung kemanusiaan Palestin, tapi pada yang sama kita sumbangkan duit untuk konsert Rihanna yang secara tak langsung menyumbang kepada kekayaan AS yang akhirnya digunakan untuk kepentingan Israel," katanya.

Jelas Kamaruzaman, pihaknya sebelum ini pernah mengadakan perbincangan dengan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) yang meluluskan permit penganjuran konsert tersebut.

"Kita sudah bincang dan mengemukakan surat bantahan kepada DBKL, tapi tiada sebarang reaksi positif, jadi nampaknya kita teruskan usaha bagi membantah penganjurannya dengan berjumpa dengan pihak pengurusan Celcom pula," katanya.

Bagaimanapun beliau berkata bantahan konsert tersebut bukan bererti PAS mengamalkan sikap antihiburan.

"Kita bukanlah antihiburan, tapi kalau hiburan atau konsert yang dianjurkan itu bertentangan dengan tuntutan Islam serta boleh merosakkan akhlak, kita tetap akan bantah.

"Kalau dianjurkan konsert yang mengikut lunas Islam, sudah pasti kita akan menyokong," katanya lagi. -- Oleh ARIFFUDDIN ISHAK, mstar - Rabu Januari 21, 2009