Questioning the timing of the statement yesterday against the staging of the concert at the Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam next Monday, DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) said PAS Youth is trying to inconvenience the organisers and fans of the American artiste.
“When the organisers sought permission for her to hold her concert here, PAS did not protest anything until the very last minute after thousands of ringgit was spent for promotional purposes,” Dapsy executive secretary Muhammad Shakir Ameer said in an official statement today.
“Isn’t this a cheap publicity stunt?”
This comes after PAS Youth declared that the former Disney TV star’s concert would “contaminate” the month of Syawal.
PAS Islamic Propagation Bureau Chairman Hafez Sabri claimed Gomez was synonymous with a “sexy image” and her appearance would tarnish the sanctity of Syawal, which follows the fasting month of Ramadan.
Shakir, who is also an MBSA councillor, called the protest “illogical”, saying that it showed PAS’s lack of constructive feedback.
“PAS Youth should have made known their objections prior to the Home Ministry’s approval rather than protesting at the very last minute when tickets have been sold and thousands of ringgit have been spent by promoters for the concert, which is next week,” Shakir said.
“Based on PAS’s logic, it means the Internet, television, radio and any other media should be banned as well for promoting Selena Gomez.”
Shakir added that Kelantan PAS Youth’s opposition to movie cinemas in the state came in contrast to the youth wing’s overall lack of opposition to movie cinemas in other parts of Malaysia.
“Why the bias and hypocrisy? Are they using religion for political publicity? Why the ‘holier than thou attitude’ towards Malaysians? Can’t they understand that ‘the heart wants what it wants’?” he said, playing on the name of one of Gomez’s biggest hits.
“PAS Youth should acknowledge that Malaysians are able to think and evaluate any form of entertainment for themselves. A person won’t lose their faith by attending a concert.
“There is no need for PAS Youth to intervene in the private matters of Malaysians. And they need to respect that.”