As I scrolled through my Twitter timeline, I was horrified to see a statement made on Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s Twitter regarding Selena Gomez’s concert.

When asked whether he is coming to the concert or not in a series of twitter conversation, his answer to the concert organisers was just shocking: “The answer is obvious, It’s like asking whether we need oxygen to survive”

On top of that, he described PAS Youth’s press statement regarding this event as “Too sexy for PAS”.

The famous Justin Bieber’s ex is coming to town, and I wonder, for a man who calls himself a voice to fight for the nation, I could not fathom his reasons to support the concert - isn’t it a clear form of cultural imperialism?

The petulant tweet was made due to PAS Youth wing’s press statement regarding Selena Gomez’s tour. So, why was it too sexy for PAS? In fact, it was not only PAS, it was for all of us - the majority of the Muslims who happen to comprehend the issue and were mature enough to see the consequences.

You see, Syed Saddiq, apart from the art and appreciation of music, Selena Gomez’s songs are mainly about love and lust; in other words, sex. Not to mention, most of the music videos are just plain old indecent, and we are living in an Islamic country, and the majority of the nation are Muslims.

We adhere to our Rukunegara, constitutional law, and how does this act of hedonism by bringing her to the country fit into the equation of our religion of the federation which is Islam, norms and cultures of the society?

So, let me enlighten you Syed Saddiq, on the whys.

1. Cultural imperialism

As defined by the English Cambridge Dictionary, it’s a fact of a large powerful country, organisation, etc having a great influence to another less powerful country.

Entertainment has become a means for US to propagate their agenda, and here we are, Selena Gomez is in town, cherished and worshipped by her fans, fans would start to want to be like her, dress like her, act like her, albeit it defies their religious beliefs, norms and culture.

So if you say that you are fighting for the nation, why are you supporting such form of imperialism towards our nation and youths especially? Selena Gomez does not come just for entertainment’s sake; there will be a lot of baggage tagging along with her. To say that this could be rectified with the norms of our society is as if you are saying that we should accept some foreign culture and suppress ours.

2. Malaysia - Islam, the religion of the federation

I am pretty sure that you did manage to remember in your constitutional law class that our constitution accepts and protect Islam. For instance 3(1), 11(4) 121a and many more, a proof that Islam is being upheld in our constitution.

Living in an Islamic country, with the majority of the people are Muslims, it occur to me that we, as Muslims must adhere to and respect Islam.

Allow me to enlighten you that in a concert, you are forced into a confined space, men and women together, drowned in the music, would such an act be considered as respecting Islam and Muslims? What about the lyrics, let us see, most of the songs (for example ‘The heart wants what it wants’, ‘Good for you’, ‘Can’t keep my hands off you’) clearly promote love, lust and of course coitus relationship, in other words, sex.

Would such songs be appropriate to be performed in an Islamic country, with a Muslim majority of citizen?

3. Rukunegara - Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan

Well, Syed Saddiq, let us once again recall and cherish our childhood memories of reciting the Rukunegara in the early mornings of Monday in our primary and secondary years.

Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan. As we recite, we promised ourselves to adhere to this Rukun, and to be precise, we have promised to uphold our modesty and courtesy as a Muslim and a Malaysian.

It comprises of the clothes we wear, the words we speak and the way we behave from my point of view. And to bring a singer, who is known to wear very little material on her body, and promotes love and lust, in my humble opinion is just an act of moral turpitude in the context of Malaysia.

“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah . If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.” Al Imran: 110

To insult and jeer the act of amar makruf nahi mungkar (enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong) is a matter of defying the ayat. Islam is a way of life, embrace it to the fullest.

This is no buffet that we can pick and choose what we want. To say that this concert symbolises as oxygen for you has left me appalled, speechless even. However, I wish to remind you that this religion is Syumul, Kamil, Mutakkamil. It is more than just a daily ritual; it is a way of life, nothing secular to it, no use to try to secularize it.

As the holy month of Ramadan, the month of Ibadah has passed, let us not waste our efforts by succumbing back to the wants and needs of nafs. As Syawal symbolises a celebration, let us embrace back to Islam, to the fullest.

“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” Al-Baqarah: 208

Looking through the Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, going to concert is not a primal need. It is a matter of choice. Please note that nobody did die for not going to concerts, not that I have heard of.

Yet many died succumbing to drug overdose during concert, and yes it had happened in Malaysia a few years back. Would you want our youth to succumb to such act, to such risks, to such deaths? I hope, for your sake, it’s a ‘No’.

I hope that you are enlightened.

AMALINA ANNUAR is a member of Beliawanis Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional (Pembina).