KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — In its official Friday sermon today, Perak’s Islamic authority claimed that the recent controversial K-pop concert involving Muslim girls being hugged and embraced was proof that liberalism “has succeeded”.

The state sermon called the concert as a “tragedy” to Muslims nationwide and was written by Perak deputy mufti Zamri Hashim, who is also the Ipoh chief for Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA).

“Indeed, this tragedy proved that the violent stream of liberalism — an ideology that tries to fulfil all human needs even by destroying religious and cultural values — has succeeded in tearing down the dividing wall of Islamic identity that has been built before,” it said.

The sermon also dismissed claims that religious authorities are only interested in punishments, insisting that any controversies could be sidestepped if only organisers had referred their events to them.

Besides Korean pop culture, the sermon also took aim at the Hindi film industry Bollywood, and the American film industry Hollywood, accusing them as “dangers” towards the Muslim identity.

“If Bollywood brings with it the ideology of religious pluralism, then K-pop brings with it liberalism and Christianisation,” said the sermon.

The sermon by the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIP) was similar to an article published on ISMA’s website Monday, which alleged that Korean artistes from a nation said to be the Christian-majority, may be using their music to covertly spread the religion.

The article had alleged that many K-pop artistes are secretly “church activists” and have been directly involved in proselytisation programmes abroad.

JAIP’s sermon today and Isma’s article provided no evidence to support their assertions other than excerpts and quotes from a blog run by A. Karim Omar, the secretary-general of another Malay NGO, Pertubuhan Muafakat Sejahtera Malaysia.

The sermon also lamented the abundance of Korean dramas shown on TV, insisting that any kissing and hugging scenes in the dramas be censored.

“To parents, supervise your children against being excited with foreign cultures such as Bollywood, Hollywood, Gangnam Style and K-pop and others,” it said.

“Gangnam Style” however is the title of a song by K-pop artiste Psy, whose video and dance became a global hit.

In a separate sermon issued by the federal Islamic authority today, Muslims were also warned to beware of Korean artistes who have an ulterior “agenda”, saying their brand of entertainment is a “process” to erode the religion and identity of the faithful.

According to the sermon by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), there are “tricks and agenda” behind Korean pop culture that will go unnoticed among those who possess “shallow thinking”.

In comparison, the Selangor state Islamic authority had prepared a sermon today warning Muslims against get-rich-quick schemes.