Lady Gaga deemed to have gone overboard
Published on: Friday, March 25, 2011
Kota Kinabalu: Concerned Malaysians, here, Thursday condemned controversial British artiste Lady Gaga for urging young Malaysians to protest the censorship of her lyrics in a hit song "Born This Way" that encourages alternative sexual behaviour, notably gay and lesbianism.UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Rosnah Ismail, said it was wrong for Lady Gaga to urge young Malaysians to protest the censorship of lyrics in her hit song that encourage acceptance of gays. "Islam forbids this. We have to abide by the country's laws.
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She shouldn't try to influence the minds of young Malaysians. We are not like some western countries that have legalised the gay or lesbian movement," she said. "What I would say is for all the young people in Malaysia that want those words to be played on the radio, it is your job and it is your duty as young people to have your voices heard," the pop star said in an interview that was posted on YouTube."You must do everything that you can if you want to be liberated by your society. You must call, you must not stop, you must protest peaceably," she added.
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Malaysian broadcasters are being cautious with Lady Gaga's song because the Government forbids offensive content. They risk fines of up to RM50,000 ($16,000) and other penalties for breaking the rules.Rev Wilfred John, of the Sabah Theological Seminary, said Malaysia is against the gay movement and does not subscribe to the ideal of openness and being carefree.
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"Malaysian society condemns the practice of a gay lifestyle and lesbianism. So, it is pointless for Lady Gaga to ask young Malaysians to protest the censorship of certain lyrics in her song."Still, Malaysians must think carefully over what is good and not good for the society," he said.However, Rev Wilfred thinks we should not be against gay people but reach out to them on humanitarian grounds and help them to come out of the problem.As an educationist, Principal of SM La Salle, Julia Willie Hock finds that the lyrics in Lady Gaga's song that encourage acceptance of gays are contradictory to the moral values "that we are trying to instil in young people.""Our religion does not encourage such unhealthy practices. Apart from teachers, who are playing a role to inculcate our children with the right ideals, parents and the society at large should also be concerned," she said.Sabah musician Roger Wang believes that the majority of the general public will not support Lady Gaga's call to young Malaysians to protest peaceably."We in Malaysia uphold religious and moral values, and observe our own set of culture. We oppose gay behaviour and Lesbianism as these are negative elements," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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