Malaysian punks told to conform
By Jonathan Kent BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur
Punk may not be dead, but in the Malaysian state of Kelantan it looks set for a relapse. The Islamic department in the state capital has launched a campaign to rid the area of punk and skinhead culture after deciding they are un-Islamic. Teenagers who sport Mohican haircuts may find themselves confronted with a pair of clippers and verses from the Koran. Punks in the city of Kota Baru appear to have been undone by their patriotism. A group of them asked for permission to hold a gathering as part of Malaysia's Independence Day celebrations. Far from welcoming this show of national pride, the city's Islamic Development Department, or JPI, was moved to action. Officers laid down a marker by detaining a 17-year old youth for looking excessively punky.
* * * *
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3176315.stm
Published: 2003/08/23 17:45:39 GMT