Malaysian Selenators have been waiting forever for pop princess Selena Gomez to conduct her 1st concert here in Malaysia, but it turns out, not everyone is eager to welcome the pop star.
In less than 1 week ahead of her “Revival” tour, Islamist party PAS Youth has called for the government to ban the 23-year-old singer’s concert in the country, claiming that her “sexy image” would disgrace the holy month of Syawal.
“The presence of the American-born singer, who is synonymous with sexy appearances, would tarnish the sanctity of the month of Syawal which is being celebrated in earnest and further stoke the hedonistic culture among the country’s youths,” said Dakwah committee chairman Hafez Sabri in a statement. It was also reported that he called for Gomez to be barred from entering Malaysia.
Is this simply a cheap publicity stunt? DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) seems to think so. “The illogical protest by PAS Youth against Selena Gomez concert shows that they have nothing else constructive to offer to Malaysians but create cheap political publicity,” said DAPSY executive secretary Muhammad Shakir Ameer.
“Based on PAS’ logic, it means the internet, television, radio and any other media should be banned as well for promoting Selena Gomez,” he told MMO, adding that PAS should have expressed their disapproval before the concert was approved.
MCA Youth leader Chong Sin Woon has also hit out at PAS for their objection saying, “If PAS Youth deems western concerts as “causing erosion of faith” and cinemas as the “cause of social ills”, why do they drop silent when local rock artistes perform on stage? Why the discrimination and furore against foreign performing artists but none against the local performing artistes?”
This is hardly the 1st time conservative Islamic parties have protested against international artistes. Performers who were previously called for the banning of their concerts include the Pussycat Dolls, Elton John, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, Adam Lambert, Erykah Badu, and Kesha.
But as Gomez’s song goes, we gotta “Kill ‘Em With Kindness”:
Fingers crossed, everything will go as planned with Selena Gomez’s concert at the Malawati Indoor Arena, Shah Alam, next Monday (25th July).
See you there, Selenators!
UPDATE (20th July, 6pm):
This just in.
According to a report by The Star, Selangor PAS has handed over a memorandum to the state government stressing its disapproval of Selena Gomez’s concert, in hopes that the concert will be called off. About 20 PAS Youth wing members were present during a brief meeting between PAS’ Youth wing chief Hanafi Zulkapli and the Mentri Besar’s chief private secretary Mohd Shahrizal Mohd Salleh at the lobby of the state secretariat building.
“The culture brought by Selena Gomez is against what we have been practising in Malaysia throughout the years. We call for the concert to be cancelled because it will have a severe negative impact. The concert will also promote social ills such as alcohol use, drugs and free mingling of sexes,” Hanafi Zulkapli said after handing over the memorandum to Mohd Shahrizal Mohd Salleh.
The PAS memorandum claimed that entertainment these days had deviated from the actual purpose of “resting the soul and relaxation”, and that concerts involving foreign celebrities often stir up negative elements during and after the event. It went on to say that entertainment business operators were racing to bring in popular foreign artistes without looking at their backgrounds and the possible effects of their shows.
As at time of writing, PR Worldwide, the promoter for Selena Gomez’s “Revival” tour in Malaysia, has yet to issue a response to the above news.
Meanwhile, in a separate report by Astro Awani, the Selangor police have assured that the best security will be provided during Selena Gomez’s “Revival Tour” concert, scheduled to be held at the Stadium Melawati on 25th July. Selangor deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said the move was being taken following several objections from certain quarters, adding that the police will carry out duties to ensure the situation remained safe.
“If the concert proceeds, we must ensure it is orderly and if it is cancelled, we must monitor because there may be other parties who are not happy,” he said.
UPDATE (22nd July, 2pm):
Ahmad Yunus Hairi, Selangor’s religious affairs executive councillor, has called on mosques throughout the state to hold “solat hajat” (special prayers) to pray for the cancellation of Selena Gomez’s “Revival Tour” concert in Shah Alam.
“All mosques in Selangor have been ordered to hold solat hajat after Friday prayers or whenever it is appropriate, before the concert is held to pray to Allah in hopes that the concert will be cancelled. (May) our beloved Selangor not be struck with disasters, and the concert organisers enlightened by Allah,” the PAS leader said in a statement today.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali previously said that the state government had no reason to prohibit Selena’s concert from proceeding as the organisers met all the requirements set by local authorities, adding that sex appeal was not an attribute that should be maligned. “Sexiness is God’s creation and subjective, do not be over excited by it, most (of her fans) are drawn by the song lyrics delivered by the particular singer,” he said.
Meanwhile, PAS’ protest over Selena Gomez’s concert has made international headlines, with popular entertainment outlets Perez Hilton, Hollywood.com, AceShowbiz highlighting the news.
Sources: Elle Malaysia, Hive Asia, The Star, Astro Awani, malaysiakini.
