PAS' Showbiz Blitz - Sudden Awareness Of Moderation Or Electioneering Strategy?

Perhaps PAS knows that its moment has finally arrived and the window of opportunity it has waited for all this while is rapidly opening. By default, due to Umno's irresponsible governance, PAS' fortune is in the ascendant. Even that part of the population who most dislike and distrust them, the non-Muslims, are at least contemplating a win-win kind of tie-up with the hitherto fringe extremist party. If Umno keeps up its present haphazard mode and style of administration, there will be lots of traditional BN votes that will go PAS' way. All that the Islamic party has to do is tone down on rhetoric and put on a moderate front; green on the inside but with a harmonious, multi-colored exterior.

It is perhaps due to this line of thinking that PAS has changed tack strategically and instead of coming out against all entertainment by westerners, is actively pursuing that icon of the Muslim entertainment world, Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam to perform in God's paradise on earth, Kelantan.

Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat himself admitted as much when he said that the state government had to try out various means to gain the people's support.

He has a simple answer for bringing in the foreign artistes such as Yusof Islam: To show that there are artistes who cling to Islam although most may indulge in vice including women, drugs and alcohol.

"It is also aimed at showing that Islam does not close its doors completely to entertainment as long as it does not make man forget his responsibilities and is free from negative aspects through attire, presentation and song lyrics," he said.

Nik Abdul Aziz said that after 15 years of rule where the party had to face various problems, only now could the state government focus on new, more open measures, especially in entertainment to attract all sectors of society, especially the young.

"Personally, I am not focusing on attracting the youths (to support Pas), but to show that not 100 per cent of songs and entertainment is 'haram'. If the youths want to support us, thank God," he said.

Early during its rule, the Pas state government did not allow concerts to be organised in the state because it considered them as causing irresponsibility in viewers.

The attitude change became apparent last year when the state government allowed Akademi Fantasia 3 (AF3) champion Mawi to perform, albeit with certain conditions.

Ironically this new 'openness' shown by PAS has opposition, from of all people, Umno! "I am not surprised with this latest action by Pas because they had never been consistent in their struggle for Islam," said Kelantan Umno Youth leader Dali Hussin.

Dali believed Pas was facing enormous pressure and had to resort to this measure to regain support, especially from the younger voters in the state.

According to him, the state government should not call in foreign artistes because Kelantan itself is a "cultural mine". Yusuf who embraced Islam in 1977 is a famous singer and composer in Britain and had sold 60 million copies of his albums.

Dali said, it would be better for the state government to encourage local arts such as the "dikir barat" which could impart positive messages.

"Can they control the thousands of entertainment-hungry people of Kelantan if they go ahead with the plan to bring in foreign artistes?," he asked.

***** Now that the roles are reversed we shall watch and see how the PAS 'Baru' tactics work. Whether it represents a genuine change of heart or merely a clever pre-election ploy by PAS will not be too difficult to ascertain over time. In the meanwhile this newfangled challenge has probably sent shivers up and down Umno's spine, or whatever is left of it, and no one can predict how they will respond.
(Source - Bernama)