Letter to Editor
ANOTHER concert means another opportunity for PAS to politicise the issue and get on its high horse – again.
To recap, the organisers of the Kuantan Music Festival has come under fire from PAS for being insensitive to the plight of Muslims in Gaza.
Pahang PAS Youth chief Mohd Zarimi Abu Zih through a post on social media also lambasted the event scheduled for Feb 24 as being poorly timed as the holy month of Ramadhan is just a fortnight away.
The modus operandi of the Islamist party has always been consistent. It has always voiced its displeasure at such events.
Never mind that the Kuantan Music Festival will feature both regional and local artistes with an emphasis on talent hailing from the East Coast such as Kelantan Malay dialect singers Eda Ezrin and Den Manjo instead of rainbow-waving Western acts.
Furthermore, the organisers have proclaimed the event as a musical tribute to the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong who is also the Pahang state ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and the 16th Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
After all, this could well serve as a “welcome home” celebration for the royal couple who will return to their home state upon the completion of Sultan Abdullah’s five-year reign as Agong on Jan 31.
Aligned with affordable ticket prices, the organisers have stated that the festival was also aimed at promoting tourism in the East Coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
PAS has remained steadfastly consistent in its opposition to such events regardless of the Israel-Hamas conflict or even the upcoming fasting month. Concerts are just a non-starter.
Henceforth, Malaysians must be cognisant of the restrictions that will be in place should PAS be allowed into corridors of Putrajaya.
The rights and freedom of non-Muslims to enjoy a night out maybe severely curtailed. The economic costs of PAS rule could be huge. This can be seen from the level of economic development and input of tourist dollars in PAS-ruled states.
Malaysians need to ask themselves if they are willing to pay this price. It goes far beyond just enjoying a concert but PAS rule may have deep ramifications for those who do not adhere to the Islamist party’s strict doctrine.
Since the concert is being held in honour of the state ruler’s tenure as king, perhaps the Pahang PAS Youth leader should be hauled up for insulting the ruler. If that sounds unreasonable, then so are the party’s calls for the event to be scrapped. – Jan 19, 2024
Concerned Concert Goer
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
