Canadian pop-rock star Avril Lavigne conveys a positive image. So says MP Loh Gwo-Burne, who joined thousands of fans at her concert in Stadium Merdeka on Friday.

PAS Youth leaders had pressed for a ban on her show, saying it was not appropriate during Merdeka month.

Loh, who spoke to some PAS leaders before going for the show, said some of them, while not supporting the concert, were not against it. “I hope party leaders can come up with an understanding on issues involving performers in the future.”

As a sign of protest, state PAS Youth distributed flyers to Muslim youths before they entered the stadium for the concert. The flyers explained the concept of entertainment in Islam.

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My fellow Malaysians,

Here’s wishing you a very Happy 51st Merdeka!

With our recent victory at Permatang Pauh, we today have a fantastic reason to celebrate this auspicious day.

The political climate in Malaysia is in for a change as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has carved his way to Parliament.

We urge all of you to renew your faith in our beloved country. Keep your Merdeka spirit alive and let us together make a change for a better Malaysia.

Selamat menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan ke-51!

All the fuss over Canadian teen pop-rock star Avril Lavigne’s concert proved completely unfounded as she belted out a measured performance at Stadium Merdeka last night.

It was a pop concert all right, with no element of a rowdy punk-rock performance as feared by some quarters who had objected to her coming here.

PAS Youth leaders had criticised the timing of the concert, claiming that the culture Lavigne promoted was not appropriate especially so close to Merdeka Day.

But all that steam was lost in the night as Lavigne entertained the estimated 15,000 crowd with songs from her three albums, bursting into life in typical fashion for several hit numbers. There were many who stood in raincoats to watch the star do her thing. Among those who turned up was Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne who is from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Lavigne was dressed casually in jeans and a black T-shirt as she took to the stage with her first song Girlfriend, and only had one costume change, into a grey T-shirt, in the one-and-a-half-hour show. The crowd remained excited throughout, singing and dancing along to Lavigne’s entire 17-song set.

Earlier, about 2,000 flyers were distributed in protest of the performance as the star’s The Best Damn Tour concert at Stadium Merdeka yesterday. The flyers were distributed to Muslim youths who were about to enter

the stadium for the concert that started at 8pm. State Pas Youth chief Kamarulzaman Mohammad said the flyers were to explain the concept of entertainment in Islam.

(View article source)

Our heartiest congratulations to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim! One down (Permatang Pauh) and another to go (Putrajaya).

Just about an hour ago, DSAI was sworn in as MP at the Parliament House. He received a roaring applause from the opposition benches; the atmosphere was electrifying!

Ironically, the BN benches were only partially filled.

It looks like Avril Lavigne is set to take on the Malaysian stage after all the unnecessary fuss. The authorities have apparently reversed their decision to cancel the Canadian pop-rock star’s concent, days after they ruled that her show was unsuitable for local youths. Let’s not even zoom into the ridiculous reasons for its humiliating to discuss these irrationally redundant policies.

Last year, R&B singer Beyonce moved her show from Malaysia to Indonesia, and Christina Aguilera skipped the country on an Asian tour after a controversy erupted over a dress code for foreign artists. As for Avril, I’m certain the thought of boycotting Malaysia would have crossed her mind despite the eleventh-hour the green light. But hats-off to Avril who will perform as planned.

Let’s see who gets shot down next. Even better, for what reason?

Soalan:

Tuan Gwo-Burne Loh [Kelana Jaya] minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan langkah-langkah yang diambil bagi membawa kembali SUHAKAM kepada status ‘A’ berdasarkan akreditasi ICC atas kegagalan mematuhi Prinsip Paris.

Jawapan:

Untuk makluman Ahli yang Berhormat, SUHAKAM merupakan Institusi Hak Asasi kebangsaan yang pada masa ini masih berada pada status “A”. Pengiktirafan ini telah diberikan oleh ICC (International Coordinating Committee on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) pada tahun 2002.

Pada 2006, ICC telah memutuskan bahawa negara-negara yang diberikan status “A” akan dinilai semula. Susulan itu, SUHAKAM telah menyerahkan laporan mengenai kedudukannya kepada ICC pada bulan Disember 2007. Berdasarkan laporan itu, pihak ICC berpendapat bahawa SUHAKAM tidak menepati Prinsip-prinsip Paris sepenuhnya dan mengesyorkan agar taraf SUHAKAM diturunkan daripada status “A” kepada status “B”. Namun begitu, SUHAKAM masih berada pada kedudukan status “A” dan telah diberi tempoh sehingga April 2009 untuk mencapai standard yang telah ditetapkan oleh ICC.

Susulan itu, SUHAKAM, Kementerian Luar Negeri, Jabatan peguam Negara dan Bahagian Hal Ehwal Undang-undang (BHEUU) telah mengadakan satu mesyuarat pada 23 Julai 2008 bagi membincangkan kaedah untuk memastikan SUHAKAM terus berada pada taraf “A”. Antara cadangan-cadangan yang dibangkitkan oleh SUHAKAM adalah seperti pindaan pada akta sedia dan beberapa keputusan dasar yang akan memberikan kebebasan kepada SUHAKAM untuk menjalankan fungsi-fungsi tanpa terikat dengan mana-mana panduan. Walau bagaimanapun, perkara-perkara ini masih dalam peringkat kajian dan penelitian.

Titile: Soalan Ahli Parlimen Kelana Jaya 20 Ogos 2008 #29

Soalan:
Tuan Gwo-Burne Loh [Kelana Jaya] minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan langkah-langkah yangdiambil bagi membawa kembali SUHAKAM kepada status ‘A’ berdasarkan akreditasi ICC atas kegagalan mematuhi Prinsip Paris.

JAWAPAN:

Untuk makluman Ahli yang Berhormat, SUHAKAM merupakan Institusi Hak Asasi kebangsaan yang pada masa ini masih berada pada status “A”. Pengiktirafan ini telah diberikan oleh ICC (International Coordinating Committee on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) pada tahun 2002.

Pada 2006, ICC telah memutuskan bahawa negara-negara yang diberikan status “A” akan dinilai semula. Susulan itu, SUHAKAM telah menyerahkan laporan mengenai kedudukannya kepada ICC pada bulan Disember 2007. Berdasarkan laporan itu, pihak ICC berpendapat bahawa SUHAKAM tidak menepati Prinsip-prinsip Paris sepenuhnya dan mengesyorkan agar taraf SUHAKAM diturunkan daripada status “A” kepada status “B”. Namun begitu, SUHAKAM masih berada pada kedudukan status “A” dan telah diberi tempoh sehingga April 2009 untuk mencapai standard yang telah ditetapkan oleh ICC.

Susulan itu, SUHAKAM, Kementerian Luar Negeri, Jabatan peguam Negara dan Bahagian Hal Ehwal Undang-undang (BHEUU) telah mengadakan satu mesyuarat pada 23 Julai 2008 bagi membincangkan kaedah untuk memastikan SUHAKAM terus berada pada taraf “A”. Antara cadangan-cadangan yang dibangkitkan oleh SUHAKAM adalah seperti pindaan pada akta sedia dan beberapa keputusan dasar yang akan memberikan kebebasan kepada SUHAKAM untuk menjalankan fungsi-fungsi tanpa terikat dengan mana-mana panduan. Walau bagaimanapun, perkara-perkara ini masih dalam peringkat kajian dan penelitian.