PAS' powerful ulama council - which opposed the Kelantan government's invitation to singer Asmawi Ani or Mawi ( photo ) to perform in Kota Bharu on Sept 30 - wants the debate on the issue to rest... for now.

Declining to comment on whether the council - which is made up of religious scholars - would heed party president Abdul Hadi Awang's request for all members to support the concert, its secretary Dr Badaruzaman Mohd Yusuf said that it has chosen to temporarily abandon the issue.

He told malaysiakini that the council would now adopt a 'wait and see' approach but warned that it would re-visit the issue after the concert in Kota Bharu on Oct 1.

"We have agreed to close the issue for the moment. We feel that it was best not to discuss the matter and wait for the concert to proceed as scheduled. After the concert, if there is a need for further discussion then we will do so," he said when contacted.

He described "further discussion" as giving a second opinion about the concert and analysing the pros and cons of the entertainment programmes to be held in conjunction with the declaration of Kota Bharu as an Islamic City.

"However, we will embark on a further discussion if we feel there is a need for it. If there is no need, then we will leave it at that. In any case, a final decision can only be made after the council chairperson (Harun Taib) returns from Cairo some time this week."

Yesterday, Abdul Hadi stated that members ought to support the concert because it is aimed at infusing religious values among youth.

The statement was issued following a clash of opinion between Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat - also PAS spiritual adviser - over the fact that Mawi will sing during the concert.

Ulama will not join party

Badaruzaman also said that the council has no intention to send a representative to monitor the concert.

He stressed that the ulama council's main concern is over the Kelantan government's choice of performers for the concert and not the programme itself.

"I think Kelantan's entertainment enactment is very clear on how programmes should be conducted. What is worrying is the personality of the performers invited to entertain the Muslim youths in Kota Bharu."

When asked who the council would consider as "suitable performers", he said: "Well, in previous programmes there were a few nasyid groups. We did not object to their performances. I think this is the first time a (pop) artist has been invited to perform."

Last week, Harun told the media that the ulama council disagreed with Kelantan's decision to invite Mawi, as he is not a real Islamic entertainer but a product of a reality TV show.

Nik Aziz later described Harun's remark as serabut (confusing) and Harun retorted that Nik Aziz was probably confused himself because of his busy schedule.