Excerpt from MalaysiaKini.com, 18th June 08
The Sultan of Selangor has threatened to cancel a football tournament after the Islamic opposition party PAS objected to the entertainers performing at the event, a report said today.
MCPX
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah told the Star daily that the protest over the two women - rock singer Ella (left) and Mas Idayu, who performs the hip-swivelling dangdut dance - was “hypocritical” and “trivial”.
He said future Selangor Cup matches between his state and Singapore could be cancelled if PAS was successful in its campaign to have them struck off the schedule.
“If this is going to be so difficult, we might as well hold this annual event in Singapore. I am sure they will be more than happy to play host,” he told the daily.
The PAS youth wing in Selangor sent a memorandum to the state’s menteri besar objecting to the performers at the July 6 match, saying they were inappropriate as the event would be attended by many youngsters.
Why the fuss?
It threatened to demonstrate at the stadium if the women were allowed to perform, the Star said.
Malaysia’s population is predominantly Muslim, and the nation’s sultans are the traditional guardians of Islam in the states they rule.
But Sharafuddin said Selangor was not made up of “just PAS and Muslims” and that in any case the two performers were suitable for families.
“I don’t know what the fuss is all about,” he said.
PAS, which rules the northern state of Kelantan, has had ambitions of turning Malaysia into a theocratic state under Islamic rule.
However, in recent years it has begun introducing reforms designed to tone down its hardline reputation and woo young voters
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
I was reading through this news and was thinking about it after reading another article in MalaysiaKini.com’s Vox Populi (literally, the voice of the people) this morning. The thing that I don’t understand is why this seeming impatience in doing stuff on the part of the PAS Youth in making their dreams come true.
Let me explain, after the 12th General Election in Malaysia, there was a huge shift in power in politics in Malaysia (as of now, the Badawi administration seems to be very weak indeed, though the probability of the PR to take over is not that great). This shift was due to, to some extent, and from what I read and listened to, a huge shift in the votes of non Malays in the ballot boxes. I don’t want to analyze the results of the past General Election, but it is suffice to say that the swing of the majority Malay Muslim majority was not impressive compared to the non Malays (please forgive me for using these words, I need to make my point as clear as possible. For the record, I dislike using these classifications. To me, it demeans people).
Now, how is this significant to the issue? We are talking about Selangor here, not Kelantan. That’s a huge difference. The Selangor popolation is mainly urban, and is a mix of all the races. Therefore, the dynamics of this particular society is different from Kelantan. An urban and mostly liberal society is harder to woo than a non urban and traditional one. This is proven even back to the Romans and Greek civilizations. So, in order to make one’s aspirations reality, one needs to be clever in doing it. One must bear in mind the prejudices and paranoia of everyone (including oneself) when judging one’s actions or other people’s action. One needs to assess the situation correctly before making a move.
Now, with regards to the concert in conjunction with the football match with Singapore, I was rather exasperated when reading it. Not long ago, the PAS Youth made a statement about wanting Islamic rule in all of the state that the PR controls. With the prejudices that exists in society about an Islamic rule, is this wise? Of course one might argue that they need to give out such statements because they are members of PAS, but is it truly wise? When people speak of an ‘Islamic rule’ the most predominant view is that of cutting people’s hands and polygamy. The former a perceived act of barbarity and the second a feminist’s nightmare. With the mainstream media not controlled by the PR, how will the PAS Youth knows that their words will be taken in its right context? What is more, a political philosopher can break such arguments apart by arguing about freedom, social justice, democracy etc. All of which, if done carefully enough, may give an impression that PAS wants an authoritarian state, hinting on a communist one. Therefore the question, is such a statement truly wise?
Add to that the new statement by the PAS Youth about the concert featuring Ella and Mas Idayu, is this not making things worse, at least the perception towards Islam? Muslims may ask, why is the state interfering with one’s freedom? (the argument for freedom, as far as I know, can go quite far. And the authoritarian view of it may mirror that of a Maxist argement (c.f Berlin inauguration lecture on liberty, positive freedom), which can be dangerous in many ways, though beneficial in some). “Is not ultimate accountability is towards God?” is also a famous argument. Not to say I agree to this 100%, but what I am saying is that people will rebel if they don’t like it. Non Muslims may think, “Who are you to impose these things to me? I don’t even believe in your religion, yet you are dictating what I should and should not watch. Were the promises made during the campaigning period a mere farce?”. Quoting a letter on MalaysiaKini.com:
Pakatan Rakyat is a multi-racial political coalition where all races have equal rights. Please respect all the people. No single party in Pakatan is allowed to act alone or on their own interest.
If PAS wants to implement this agenda or if they have any motives behind, please leave Pakatan Rakyat. You are not welcome if you are not in line with PKR objectives which is to fight for all races as one nationality - Malaysians.
Again, why this apparent rush? Does the PAS Youth thinks that just because they have MB’s in 3 states, that means that people want radical changes in their lives? Bear in mind the composition and the extent of the swing of the Malay Muslim majority. Being Muslims doesn’t mean they are PAS supporters. Heck, many of them may not even believe in what PAS is fighting for; they just don’t want to vote for Barisan. And many of them might like to see Mas Idayu and Ella sing (even I find some of the songs entertaining, though that doesn’t mean I like the singers). By doing this, doesn’t it alienate people who might support PAS in the future?
Having said all this, I am not saying that I agree 100% with the concert; I have my own views on that issue. However, as a political move, I think what the PAS Youth is doing is untimely and unwise as of now. I am not supporting the motion or disagreeing with it, I am merely saying it is unwise. The PR has an excellent chance now to prove to the rakyat that they can govern well - that should be the first step. And by governing well, one needs to see the realities and dynamics of society. Make concrete steps forwards, learn from history. Read history critically, and see where people of old went wrong. In some ways, islamists in general, and PAS specifically, is simply imitating what the Christian priests of the Medieval Ages have done; same reasons, same actions. And look at what good it did for them.
Again the question, is it wise to do so?
Wallahua’lam