THE PAS leadership can be in two minds about everything – how to work with the federal government, how to win over non-Muslims, the leadership styles of the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat or Abdul Hadi Awang or the late Fadzil Mohd Noor.

But when it comes to entertainment, PAS seems to be in concert against it. However, the opposition usually only happens when PAS is out of government.

It isn’t clear why PAS is against Coldplay’s performance here. If it is performances per se, it seems okay with live bands performing at its ceramah, even rock ones.

If it is the dressing, Blackpink seems sexier, and was approved when PAS was in power.

If the issue is support for the LGBT community, Billie Eilish literally named an album “Wish You Were Gay”.

Neither did PAS have a problem with Coldplay sponsoring a river clean-up programme in Klang, and even shared their tweet in support of Palestine!

So what is the issue, really, if any?

Like all other issues, an issue is an issue, if PAS says, when PAS says it is, and within shifting parameters that PAS dictates it to be.

It doesn’t matter if it flies in the face of its own policy, contradicts itself, backtracks what it has said or done months before, or totally does not make any sense whatsoever, PAS will continue to raise issues it thinks are in line with its interests and narrative at that material time.

A seasoned party at Malay-Muslim interests, PAS knows just how hard it can tighten the corkscrews before it alarms its target electorate or not.

It realises that there are many Muslims in Malaysia, even in conservative states it controls who like K-Pop, Western rock and some degree of “moderate” entertainment, yet it is necessary to pander to the deeply religious echelon of supporters who frown upon anything less than complete dedication to religion.

If PAS and Perikatan Nasional (PN) wish to attract the middle ground, it cannot continue to pursue exclusively religious ideals at the cost of the public sentiment on issues or the economic worries of most.

They should understand by now that their supporters are largely from the semi-urban group, or people from the Malay conservative belt who work and live or study in the urban areas who return to vote (from the age demographic of voting streams).

These groups are unaffected by overt religious restrictions in PAS’ home ground states because they do not live there, nor by the poor infrastructure because they enjoy clean water and steady broadband in larger cities.

The voting pattern can be in ways interpreted as protest votes against the political goings-on of the country.

However, pushing these agenda too hard may stir realisation and force voters to choose between idealism and realpolitik.  

Supporters of PAS who actually hoped for any of these restrictions would actually occur should also recall nearly no new restrictions against anything were implemented while it held federal power, neither with Pakatan Harapan nor PN, despite claiming the first barred it from doing so, and the second was more amenable to it.

Not even the infamous RUU 355 was successfully tabled in nearly two years of PN’s rule!

The reality is, PAS is not ready to rule itself, and unwilling to fully comply with playing with others.

The party realises that Malaysia cannot stand strong if races are driven too far apart, nor can we be seen as a “radical” state or risk being alienated, losing out on tourism and investments.

While no real damage is done to policy, the platform given to these loud, absurd, but ultimately difficult to execute ideas, would corrode our image as poster boy for moderation, in favour of other nations that are lowering such tones in turn. – May 17, 2023.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.