Nasrudin defends concert protests and V-Day ops

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan today defended the party youth wing’s activities, which some perceived to be against the progressive slant expected from the new party line-up.

Asked how he would be able to work with the new leadership, Nasrudin told reporters that protests against concerts and ‘vice raids’ are only a small part of their activities.

“I urge you to be fair to us. Each term is for two years and Valentine’s Day is only one day. We do other things on the remaining 364 days.

“In any case, during the (Valentine’s Day operation) we are policing free mingling (between sexes), just like for concerts. We only protest concerts that encourage negative values, only one or two, we did not protest the rest,” he said.

He added that the youth wing spends the bulk of their time doing community work, like providing aid to the recent landslide victims.

“Why didn’t you report that? The perception (that we are moral police) is wrong. We live in a society and when someone is suffering, the youth wing will be there.

“We event went to Gaza, but what is reported? PAS Youth protests against a concert. Am I right?” he said agitatedly.

PAS Youth caught flak when it announced that it would be policing courting couples during Valentine’s Day to ensure that they do not engage in immoral activities.

But instead of conducting a ‘vice raid’ like religious departments, the youth wing approaches couples canoodling in public areas, advices them and distributes educational flyers to them.

PAS Youth had also held protests against a concert by homosexual American singer Adam Lambert.

Meanwhile, echoing party president Abdul Hadi Awang, Nasrudin, who comes from a religious background, said that the mix of profesionals and ulama in the new line-up will help the party in its maturation process.

“This is actually not something new, to have such a combination, and it also does not mean that those from different schools of thoughts will not be given a chance (in leadership),” he said.