Concert junkies will have to strike Kedah off their list as the PAS-led state government has imposed an indefinite ban on rock, pop, reggae and dangdut gigs.

According to the state government, such concerts have a negative influence on youths.

The Star newspaper today quoted state executive councillor Dr Ismail Salleh as saying that the administration does not “condone any gelek-gelek (gyrations) on stage.”

Ismail said the state is currently formulating a comprehensive guideline for concerts and informed that the ban will remain until further notice.

However, he added that the state government is not opposed to entertainment but stated that concerts could have a negative influence.

PAS recently failed to stop Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne's in Kuala Lumpur scheduled for tonight.

However, PAS has threatened to stage a protest, saying that the concert is an insult to Islam.

Patriotic songs

Meanwhile, Ismail who is also the PAS state liaison committee member said performances that showcase patriotic songs are acceptable

Therefore, he said the special concert at Stadium Darul Aman to celebrate Malaysia’s 51st Independence Day would go on as the performers have been asked to render patriotic songs.

The Star also quoted Ismail as saying that the guidelines established by the Islamic development department (Jakim) would be put in place in the northern state.

“The federal guidelines are there but so far only Kelantan has implemented them,” he said.

When contacted, PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar and Youth leader Salahuddin Ayub said they were in the dark about the ban.

What is Pakatan's stand?

Reacting to the ban, non-governmental advocacy group Sisters in Islam (SIS) expressed disbelief and asked PAS to explain the direct correlation between concerts and negative influences.

SIS programme manager Norhayati Kaprawi said that concerts are nothing more than just entertainment.

“It is understood that PAS has been very forceful about this matter,” she said, questioning the stand by Pakatan Rakyat on the ban.

"It is no longer just PAS – and we would like to know Pakatan's stand and whether it is in their manifesto to ban entertainment enjoyed by Muslims and non-Muslims alike," she said.

"PAS has often assured that non-Muslims will not be affected by their policies – (and) in what way does this not affect non-Muslims," she added.