No place for rockers in PAS leadership
(The Star) – Singers and rockers are welcomed into PAS but are not taken seriously as prospective leaders.
This was clearly seen in the defeats of several entertainers vying for posts in the party and harsh criticisms against the organisers and participants of a rock concert to mark the just-ended PAS 59th muktamar here.
Singer Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin (picture) and comedian Sulaiman Ibrahim, popularly known as Aishah and Man Raja Lawak respectively, in their fields, failed miserably in their bid to be among the chosen leaders in PAS.
Wan Aishah, a defeated parliamentary candidate in the May 5 general election, received the third-lowest votes for the central committee posts and fourth lowest in the Muslimat central committee polls.
Sulaiman came last in the PAS Youth central committee election.
Even PAS education bureau chief Datuk Abu Bakar Chik was not spared the humiliation of being discarded by die-hard party delegates.
The vice-president contender received the lowest votes, attributed to his drum-playing stage appearance at the Gig Green Zone concert.
The event could have also been the reason why PAS culture and arts bureau chairman Dr Muhamin Sulam lost in his bid to secure a seat in the central committee.
However, in his speech before the delegates, he adamantly defended the show as being in line with the party’s campaign theme, PAS for All.
“Yes, we had long-haired youngsters clad in jeans performing rock metal on stage. This suits the youngsters.
“PAS for All is about inclusiveness. Perhaps, that is why we (Pakatan Rakyat) won two terms in Selangor but only one term in Kedah (2008-2013) and Terengganu (2000 to 2004),” he said, to responses of “oohs” from the floor.
He called on the delegates to accept the artistes as well as all proponents of culture and fine arts into their fold.
Alor Setar PAS delegate Adnan Saad was clearly furious when he lambasted the organisers of the concert.
Saying he was shocked to see metal rockers performing on stage at an event organised by PAS, he exclaimed: “This is worse than Umno.”
