Malaysia not a 'nanny-state' envisioned by Pas, Muda says on banning concerts
SHAH ALAM - Pas should respect the country's multiracialism and not be selective in banning concerts just because it is not in line with their ideology, Muda says.
Muda central executive committee member Ainie Haziqah said Pas should also focus on the rakyat's struggles instead of looking at ways to ban concerts.
“If Pas is saying that concerts should be banned, then there are nasyid group concerts like Raihan so are they going to stop that as well or are they going to be selective in banning certain concerts just because it does not rhyme with what they think?
“Malaysia is a multiracial country and we should not conform to only to one idea brought by Pas.
“I think Pas should focus on the bread and butter issues instead of posing this kind of ideology,” she told Sinar Daily.
Over the weekend, the PAS Ulama Council called the Islamic development department (Jakim) to be given a bigger role to play within a government agency that approves foreign acts, to stem performances that are considered not Islamic.
Muda's vice president Lim Wei Jiet said issues like concerts should not be the priority of a political party, especially now as the country was embroiled in mega-corruption, poverty and food security issues.
He also said that they should accept that non-Muslims have their rights and interests, and interfering in their lifestyle was not right.
“While I respect that Jakim has jurisdiction to regulate the affairs of Muslim, the point in which they interfere into things like concerts affects non-Muslims, and this is where we should draw the line.
“Ordinary right-thinking Malaysians must stand up and tell Pas resoundingly that a nanny-state envisioned by them is not the nation we wish to live in.
“We have always thrived because we celebrate diversity, openness and progress,” he said.
He said Pas wants to turn back the clock while other Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia and Vietnam are overtaking the country economically.
Former Muda vice president Dr Thanussha Francis Xavier said she disagreed with Pas asking Jakim to interfere in handling concerts as they cannot take the view of one department to decide for the rest of the country.
“The Communications and Multimedia ministry takes input from various agencies including Jakim in their decision-making.
“Jakim represents the opinions of one sector of society and cannot be generalised as the viewpoint of the entire nation.
“There are other agencies that have given approval for concerts to be held in Malaysia, so why does Jakim’s opinion matter more than all of the other agencies combined and why should they be given absolute authority in decision making?,” she told Sinar Daily.
She questioned Pas’ determination to solve major problems faced by Malaysians daily.
“Pas is going hard on concerts because elections are coming soon and it’s once again time for them to create hype through division and extremism.
“They just want to sow division among Malaysians.
“I cannot remember when in recent years have they proposed any single idea, vision or policy that is of value. It has just been a series of racist and discriminatory remarks from them,” she added.
