KUALA LUMPUR – A businessman has admitted to being responsible for the presence of tahfiz students in the audience of the recent Kepci Music Fest in Selangor.
Andrie Ung Han Xiang said in a statement that it was his initiative to invite the tahfiz students and orphans to the concert, as he wished for them “to experience a festival”.
However, he added that this was done without the involvement of the fast-food chain or the government.
“KFC and the government are not involved in bringing the tahfiz students to the event, and they were not given advance notice on the matter.
“This is a sincere initiative on my behalf, aided by contributions and help from my friends. Together, we managed to involve up to 700 orphans from 22 orphanages nationwide.”
He added that the tahfiz students, who were seen in a viral video, were from the Watahfiz al-Quran Rohingya Madrasah in TTDI Jaya.
“They are Muslim Rohingya refugees who can barely communicate in Bahasa Malaysia. The purpose of inviting them (for the event) was just to entertain them.”
He also appealed to the relevant authorities and “those who are more Muslim” to be mindful of the children’s welfare.
“We (Ung and his friends) are saddened by the dissatisfaction shown by certain parties who have been affected by this issue.”
It is believed that Ung is the son of local Chinese businessman Datuk Seri Sunny Ung, whose contributions towards Muslim orphans, the poor, and the homeless community were recognised at the Muslim World Entrepreneur Development Awards in 2018.
The concert, held last Saturday at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, saw performances from local artists such as Datuk Amy Search, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Ella, Misha Omar, and homegrown band Bunkface.
Yesterday, Perikatan Nasional Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari aired his grouses with the attendance of tahfiz students at the concert, questioning the rationale behind inviting religious students for such an event.
“What values are you trying to inculcate? It saddened me and hurt my heart to see videos of the religious students appearing stunned and surprised (by the concert),” said Fadhli, who is also Pasir Mas MP, in a Facebook post.
According to social media posts by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he graced the event with his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. – August 29, 2023