Lady Gaga, the House of Representatives and the FPI
Monday, 21 May, 2012 | 15:37 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) claimed it stayed out of the pros and cons voiced by members of the House (DPR) regarding Lady Gaga's concert. "We have no problems with their views," said Chairman of FPI faction of Regional DPR, Salim Al-Attas, when contacted by Tempo on Friday (May 18).



A number of politicians criticized the ban against the concert titled ''Born This Way Ball''. "Don't be so quick in banning it. It will mean we reject the freedom of expression in art and cultural forms,” said a member of the Cultural Commission, Popong Otje Djunjunan



Chairman of the House's Legal Commission, Benny Kabur Rahman, also denounced the ban.



“It gives a strong message to the public that the police is incapable of maintaining security,” he said.



Meanwhile, Salim thinks that the concert of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the singer's real name, should be canceled. "Even the Religious Ministry has protested against it,” he said.



The concert's promoter, Big Daddy Entertainment, was condemned by FPI of selling the tickets before obtaining the concert permit. "Why did they sell the tickets before the permit was issued. It's like getting pregnant before getting married. That's not right,” Salim quipped, adding it was the fault of the promoter.



He pointed out that the Jakarta Metro Police and also the National Police have not given permit for the concert. President Director of PT Prima Java Kreasi (Big Daddy Entertainment Group), Michael Rusli, refuted that his company sold tickets before applying for the permit.



"It's a lengthy process and we followed through the procedures,” he told Tempo last Tuesday.



The concert of the singer of the hit song Poker Face is threatened with cancellation as the authorities consider her stage acts too vulgar and unfit for the Indonesian audience. Public organizations that oppose to Lady Gaga's presence in Indonesia include Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), Muslims Forum (FUI) and Intellectual and Young Ulama Council.



FPI even vowed to bar Lady Gaga at the Soekarno-Hatta airport if she persists to go ahead with the concert. "We are only defending the interests of the Muslims everywhere. Don't blame us for any unrest later,” he warned.



Meanwhile around 55.000 concerts tickets have all been sold out since March. There has been no update from the promoter regarding the concert.



SUBKHAN