In a move to win over young voters and instill religious values among Muslim youth, members of Islamic opposition party PAS are visiting top pubs and karaoke lounges across the country to talk to those who frequent such facilities.

According to Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, PAS' youth wing has organised such visits since January in order to extend the party's outreach to youngsters and to 'get nearer to the ground'.

"We go to pub and karaokes to have 'nice talks' with them almost every weekend. This is our new approach to show that we are not aggressive - we just want to tell them the dos and don'ts in Islam and to give them our advice in a mild way," he told malaysiakini when met recently.

Last weekend, a team comprising 100-odd youth wing members visited several glitzy youngsters' hangouts in Bangsar, Ampang and Bukit Bintang.

"We mingle with the youngters outside the pubs and karaoke lounges. The response was good because they were willing to share time with us and to take our pamphlets," Salahuddin said.

"We also receive e-mails and short messaging services (SMS) text from them thanking us. Some are keen to arrange an appointment to meet us again," he added.

Salahuddin, however, could not reveal the number of new party members PAS has recruited from this unusual programme.

Strong opposition

Salahuddin noted that there was a great need for the party to raise awareness among youngsters in view of the rising social ills and high drug consumption among them.

PAS had attributed its humiliating electoral outing in last year's general election, among others, to young voters deserting its Islamic cause.

The youth wing's programme came in the wake of the party's strong opposition to the anti-moral policing campaign launched by a number of non-governmental organisations and individuals, which called for an end to the use of religious laws in criminalising morality.

The Islamic party has also praised the actions of religious enforcement agencies to raid nightspots although the move has drawn severe criticisms from non-governmental organisations.

Following that, the party recently embarked on a campaign against groups which advocate what it termed 'dangerous liberal Islam propaganda' ( bahaya dakyah Islam liberal ).