A Coldplay concert set to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has received the green light but faces a “kill switch” if the band misbehaves.
Coldplay are performing on Wednesday evening at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium as part of their Music of the Sphere World Tour.
Malaysian communications minister, Fahmi Fadzil, said the organiser of the concert Live Nation Malaysia agreed to the “kill switch” which would cut off the power supply to the equipment immediately if the band offended the country's customs.
Mr Fadzil said the use of the switch is “one the things we have discussed with the organisers,” but he did not foresee any issues.
He added: “The prime minister has also said the band is very supportive of Palestine. So, we are upbeat about the concert today.”
The switch was introduced following a controversy sparked by the British band The 1975 in July after Matt Healy kissed a bandmate on stage. Conservative Muslims in Malaysia have been opposed to Coldplay's concert due to the band’s supportive stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
The Malaysian Islamic Party warned in a social media post the band promoted a “culture of hedonism and perversion.”
Last week, police clashed with protestors in Jakarta, Indonesia where Coldplay performed, slamming the band’s stance as damaging to “faith and morals.”
But earlier this week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shot down opposition from conservative groups to ban or call off the concert when he was asked whether it was appropriate while there was conflict in Gaza.
He told the country’s parliament: “Why should we stop a group that supports the Palestinian cause from performing.”
“Because there are lobbyists from the Palestinian movement who support and have given their views to the foreign minister, and my office has stated, why should we stop a group that supports the Palestinian cause from performing.”
Lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin, showed support for Palestine during a concert in Japan when he said: “We don’t believe in oppression, or occupation, terrorism or genocide, nothing like that. We believe in loving each other, being kind to each other and supporting each other…you can send love to Gaza and Israel, you can send it to the West Bank.”
He went on to name other countries embroiled in conflict like Ukraine, Sudan and The Democratic Republic of Congo.
Coldplay has been outspoken about Palestine over the years. The band posted the song Freedom For Palestine on its official Facebook page in 2011, which received criticism and in 2019 collaborated with Palestinian band Le Trio Joubran.
Live Nation Malaysia has warned concertgoers to be “mindful of local cultures and sensitivities.”
