Leader

It is a dream scenario for Malaysia to host international music festivals and live concerts featuring top-draw artistes in a conducive, even transcendent, venue, fully backed by regulators and fans. But concerts here featuring globally recognised artistes must adhere to rules set by the authorities, given our religious conservatism. Too permissive, too sexy, too queer, too political, too weird, too eccentric, too defiant — these are absolute no-nos. Because of these tough conditions, Malaysia may never host the Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, Megadeth, Rihanna, gangster rappers or even Beyoncé. Coldplay, which supports the LGBTQ, only made it here through much hand-wringing. In the past, Avril Lavigne had to rein in her in-your-face attitude, Mariah Carey had to tame her trademark sexiness, and Linkin Park had to temper their wild antics, including not wearing shorts on stage.