Rock on, preacher man

“We do not deny that he can use his influence as an artiste to draw the crowds to his talks which had been known to be sarcastic about other religious speakers and also fellow artistes,” he said, adding that Jais had not received any application by Akhil Hayy to speak in Selangor since his detention by the religious authority.

By Shah A Dadameah, Malaysian Mirror

Rock-star turned preacher man Akhil Hayy Rawa has a big following among the young but it does not impress the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).

The department does not recognise his missionary work although he addresses packed crowds – which includes many elderly people – whether he is speaking in a hall or at an open field.

Other than being Akhil Hayy (he is seldom referred to with a single name), his league of followers call him ‘Ustaz Rock.’ The young adores his style and sees him as a cross between Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp because of his film star looks.

With a scandal that broke his first marriage, his talk show on cable TV suspended and his background as a band boy, the celebrity preacher has all the ingredients of being a big draw whenever he takes the stage.

In August this year, after two years of being embroiled in gossips about his relation with TV talk show co-host Waheeda, the two married. The rocker ustad has four children from his first marriage.

His younger daughter and son attended his wedding with the actress-singer, following his sensational divorce with their mother, Maizawati Zainal.

The bad publicity also caused Astro to freeze his talk show, which provided a forum for young people to voice their youthful problems.

Waheeda (left), whose real name is Nor Wahida Abdul Wahab, was his co-host on the show, Kafe Akhil Hayy.

Raised in a family of religious teachers, he formed a band called ‘D’Ryadh’ in the 80s, which went on to win a ‘Battle of the Bands’ contest in 1988.

Much publicised speaker

The group has since disbanded and Akhil Hayy went on to carve his name as a solo act, recording mainly ‘dakwah’ type of music,

In the mid-90s and through the early years of the new century, he was a much publicised speaker at PAS rallies but his political leanings have since mellowed and he currently brands himself as an ‘independent missioner.’

About three years ago, Jais detained him for breach of the state’s Islamic administration enactment for holding a religious ceramah without its authorisation.

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