Thursday September 15, 2005
PAS ulamas object to Mawi's concert
BY IAN MCINTYRE
KOTA BARU: The powerful Dewan Ulama PAS has objected to the Kelantan government’s move to invite Akademi Fantasia 3 (AF3) winner Asmawi Ani, or better known as Mawi, to perform here on Oct 1.
Its chairman Datuk Harun Taib said Mawi was not the same breed of artiste as those under the alternative entertainment category.
“He was actually a product of AF3 academy and not a product of the alternative entertainment academy,” he said.
Mawi has been billed by Kelantan as the star attraction in an alternative entertainment concert show to mark the declaration of the state capital as an “Islamic City.”
The Johorean was also earmarked to recite the maghrib (evening) prayers as part of his performance before an estimated 300,000 audience assembled at Stadium Sultan Mohamad IV.
It is learnt that there is now a last-minute inclusion in the form of M. Nasir, the doyenne of Malaysia's male entertainers, who was expected to perform alongside his protégé Mawi.
Harun said the party’s ulama council supports the introduction of alternative entertainment in Kelantan but rejects the notion that artistes other than those produced under religious guidelines should be allowed to perform here.
Mawi was a product of AF3 which hardly had any religious elements in its presentation so he should not be invited, said Harun, who is described as an ultra-conservative ulama in PAS.
“The state government also did not brief PAS national leaders over the programme. I think the programme was just initiated by a few leaders there (Kelantan),” he said.
Harun, who is revered here as an ulama, said that in Islam, alternative entertainment was allowed through nasyid (choir) recitals and singing where the song’s lyrics are full of religious verses.
“Entertainment is allowed provided the artistes can entertain the crowd on pious matters. This was definitely not available in AF3 televised shows.
“I do not have anything personal against Mawi but am just presenting the Islamic viewpoint,” he said.
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