KOTA BARU: Allowing Mawi to perform in Kelantan does not mean that the PAS-led state has embraced the Federal Government's concept of Islam Hadhari, Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said.
“We managed to showcase to the world how a concert can be organised based on Islamic principles.
“This was something Umno was unable to do,” he told reporters at a buka puasa session with the media here on Tuesday.
He was commenting on remarks by Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin that in holding the recent open-air concert here, PAS had accepted Islam Hadhari.
Alleging that Zainuddin had twisted the facts, Nik Aziz, who is PAS spiritual advisor, added: “Islam is Islam – a religion which governs everything in this world.
“One cannot brand it as Islam Hadhari, which is just an elusive attempt to link a certain concept with Islam.”
He added that Umno came out with the concept at last year's general election to win over voters who were calling for Islam to be “the way of life”.
On the concert that was held in conjunction with Kota Baru being declared an Islamic City, Nik Aziz said the authorities took measures such as segregating single males and females.
They also ensured that the songs were motivational in nature.
Nik Aziz thanked the media for the widespread coverage of the concert, which featured, among other artistes, Akademi Fantasia 3 winner Asmawi Ani (popularly known as Mawi).
He said Islam accepts forms of entertainment that are designed to motivate the ummah.
This was why Kelantan initially disallowed performances like dikir barat and wayang kulit.
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