Markus Junianto Sihaloho – If the National Police are going to ban western imports like Lady Gaga out of respect for Indonesian values, then police need to ban imports pushing "Middle Eastern culture" as well, an Indonesian lawmaker said on Tuesday.

The National Police refused to issue a permit on Tuesday for Lady Gaga's sold-out Jakarta concert in response to harsh criticism from Indonesia's hard-line Islamist organizations. The June 3 concert – which already sold more than 52,000 tickets – would corrupt the nation's moral fiber, conservative groups like the Islamic Defenders Front alleged.

But Ahmad Basarah, of the House of Representatives' legal affairs commission, said that the National Police cannot choose to only ban imports pushing western ideology when Middle Eastern influences often run counter to Indonesia's Pancasila.

"The government shouldn't discriminate when upholding the law," the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said. "If they dare to cancel shows that push a liberal-capitalistic ideology like Lady Gaga, then they should also take firm action against demonstrations pushing ideologies from the Middle East."

Democratic Party lawmaker Nova Riyanti Yusuf criticized the National Police's decision, adding that Lady Gaga's concert wouldn't corrupt the nation's sense of morality.

"Whether someone goes to hell or heaven doesn't depend on whether they watch concerts or not," Nova said. "It depends on their deeds and their hearts."

But a Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker expressed support for the National Police's decision, calling Lady Gaga's dress too "obscene" and her dances too "erotic." "[Lady Gaga's performance] is obviously against the national culture and immoral," Indra said. "[The concert] would violate the Pornography law."

Indra said that going ahead with the planned concert would likely cause chaos in the capital. (BeritaSatu/JG)