Scrapping of concert shows Penang caving in to conservatism, says MCA

GEORGE TOWN: The move by the state government to scrap a concert in Kepala Batas on Sept 20 is disappointing, says Penang MCA.

Its chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, who is also MCA vice president, said the move seems like the state government was riding on the green wave that had swept the northern states after the state elections.

Recently, in a press conference, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the organisers agreed to relocate the venue of the concert - “Viral Lagu-Lagu TikTok Malaysia Indonesia 2023” - from Dewan Millennium in Kepala Batas to Batu Kawan Stadium in Nibong Tebal.

Tan said although the concert had been allowed to proceed at a different location with additional conditions, it showed that the state government was inching closer towards rigidity at the expense of the country’s multicultural composition.

"It appears that the state government is veering towards conservatism as witnessed in the concert’s cancellation recently, and to the new rule requirement that male guests don a songkok during the Penang exco swearing-in ceremony early this month," he said in a statement on Aug 25 (Friday).

Tan said taking a more conservative approach to compete against PAS along racial and religious lines was unexpected and disappointing.

He said the new songkok wearing decision by the state government indicated the state government was caving in to conservatism while the public grew anxious that Penang is gradually becoming more narrow-minded in its policies.

On Aug 16, male attendees of the swearing-in ceremony were left frustrated after being told to wear songkok before they could enter the ceremony hall in Dewan Sri Pinang.

The new rules had left many surprised as there were no such rules in similar state ceremonies in the past.

Tan said during the just-concluded state election, almost all of the 29 state seats were won with support from Penang's diverse ethnic communities.

"However, post-state election, the state administration appears to pander to the green wave in pursuit of conservatism," he said.