Segregated seating for Kelantan concert-goers
Arfa'eza A AzizPublished: Sep 13, 2005 7:06 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Kota Bharu Municipal Council personnel will be out in full force on Oct 1 to ensure that those attending an inaugural state-sponsored concert conduct themselves appropriately, said an official of the Kelantan PAS-led government.
Those attending Kelantan's first state-sponsored pop concert will have to sit in different sections, to ensure appropriate conduct that does not transgress religious sensitivities.
Kota Bharu Municipal Council personnel will be out in full force on Oct 1 to ensure that those attending an inaugural state-sponsored concert conduct themselves appropriately, said an official of the Kelantan PAS-led government.
Local government committee chairperson Takiyuddin Hassan told malaysiakini that special seating arrangements are being made for concert-goers at the Sultan Mohamad Stadium, to ensure that the event does not run foul of Islamic tenets.
"There will be separate seating for those who come with their families, as well as for men and women," he said.
"The municipal personnel will be assisted by the police. But I am confident nothing untoward will happen although this is our first grand celebration."
The two-hour free concert which will feature current top singers - Akademi Fantasia 3 winner Asmawi Ani (better known as Mawi), M Nasir and nasyid group Rabbani - will start soon after the Kelantan Ruler officially declares Kota Bharu an Islamic city.
The concert will be the second one scheduled in conjunction with the celebration. The first is expected to be held at the Padang Perdana, also in Kota Baru, the day before.
The state government is making every effort to ensure that the events held in conjunction with the celebration are held accordance to Islamic guidelines, according to the official.
The Star reported today that a fashion show will only be open to Kelantan women, but that their husbands will not be allowed to accompany them.
Guidelines for Mawi
Takiyuddin said general guidelines will be issued to the performers.
"This will cover their attire and the type of songs...of course we cannot control their performance, but one of the reasons we invited them is because we are confident they can accommodate our requirements.
"We will tell them to sing songs (with lyrics) that motivate youth, deliver positive values and to remind them of God... maybe even songs expressing the beauty of nature....I'm sure Seroja should be allowed," he said referring to the song popularised by Mawi.
On how much is being spent on the concert, Takiyuddin said this would be well within the RM2 million budget that the state had allocated for the entire celebration, which will be launched on Thursday.
"We will have to pay the artistes according to the fee they have set. For example, we're paying Mawi RM20,000," he said.
Kelantan has come a long way since PAS took over the state government in 1990. Concerts featuring pop singers were unthinkable then and even traditional cultural entertainment like Dikir Barat and Wayang Kulit were once banned.
The bans were lifted with special conditions several years later, following pressure from culture and arts movements.
Although the Kelantan Entertainment Enactment - which sets guidelines for public events - was passed in 1998, the state government did not feel compelled to allow such events up to now.
Both the concert and the party's recent engagement with local artistes in a football match are part of PAS' attempts to break away from its hardline religious image, following its disastrous performance in last year's general election.
It is understood that PAS is especially keen on ensuring the concert is incident-free, so as not to give critics within the party any 'ammunition' to manipulate the issue.
Local government committee chairperson Takiyuddin Hassan told malaysiakini that special seating arrangements are being made for concert-goers at the Sultan Mohamad Stadium, to ensure that the event does not run foul of Islamic tenets.
"There will be separate seating for those who come with their families, as well as for men and women," he said.
"The municipal personnel will be assisted by the police. But I am confident nothing untoward will happen although this is our first grand celebration."
The two-hour free concert which will feature current top singers - Akademi Fantasia 3 winner Asmawi Ani (better known as Mawi), M Nasir and nasyid group Rabbani - will start soon after the Kelantan Ruler officially declares Kota Bharu an Islamic city. The concert will be the second one scheduled in conjunction with the celebration. The first is expected to be held at the Padang Perdana, also in Kota Baru, the day before.
The state government is making every effort to ensure that the events held in conjunction with the celebration are held accordance to Islamic guidelines, according to the official.
The Star reported today that a fashion show will only be open to Kelantan women, but that their husbands will not be allowed to accompany them.
Guidelines for Mawi
Takiyuddin said general guidelines will be issued to the performers.
"This will cover their attire and the type of songs...of course we cannot control their performance, but one of the reasons we invited them is because we are confident they can accommodate our requirements.
"We will tell them to sing songs (with lyrics) that motivate youth, deliver positive values and to remind them of God... maybe even songs expressing the beauty of nature....I'm sure Seroja should be allowed," he said referring to the song popularised by Mawi.
On how much is being spent on the concert, Takiyuddin said this would be well within the RM2 million budget that the state had allocated for the entire celebration, which will be launched on Thursday.
"We will have to pay the artistes according to the fee they have set. For example, we're paying Mawi RM20,000," he said.
Kelantan has come a long way since PAS took over the state government in 1990. Concerts featuring pop singers were unthinkable then and even traditional cultural entertainment like Dikir Barat and Wayang Kulit were once banned. The bans were lifted with special conditions several years later, following pressure from culture and arts movements.
Although the Kelantan Entertainment Enactment - which sets guidelines for public events - was passed in 1998, the state government did not feel compelled to allow such events up to now.
Both the concert and the party's recent engagement with local artistes in a football match are part of PAS' attempts to break away from its hardline religious image, following its disastrous performance in last year's general election.
It is understood that PAS is especially keen on ensuring the concert is incident-free, so as not to give critics within the party any 'ammunition' to manipulate the issue.
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