KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — A shared Islamic chant between an Umno-backed event and a video of a New Year’s eve countdown in Singapore criticised as excessively celebratory has led to questions over the nationalist party’s approach in appealing to its Muslim supporters.
Although the Singapore event — which has been likened to a “Muslim rave” — was recorded more than a year ago, similarities were still drawn between that and the Putrajaya-backed “Selawat Perdana” Islamic mega festival last month.
Allegedly from a countdown to 2013, the video depicts a crowd of dozens chanting the “Ya hanana” qasidah (a form of lyrical poetry) that expresses the gratitude Muslims feel for receiving Muhammad as their prophet.
The controversy stems from when, midway into the chanting, the lights in the venue were switched off and the crowd continued chanting while waving glowsticks, drawing comparisons to dance “raves” often associated with recreational drug use.
The Singapore video resurfaced in recent days initially on Facebook, and apparent confusion over its origin has led to criticism against Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), with most complainants seemingly unaware of its origins.
The mix-up appears to be due to similarities to the Umno-backed “Selawat Perdana” mass gathering, which was held last month to mixed receptions among the Muslim community and Umno’s detractors.
“This is what happens when religion is interpreted using intellect,” said one of the more popular comments on Facebook in Malay.
“Even Christians do not make it like disco time when they sing songs for Jesus. Now so-called Muslims are singing songs for the prophet with a disco version,” said another popular comment in Malay.
Among those blamed for the video’s content were Shiah followers, Jews, liberal Muslims, and the dajjal — the Muslim version of the anti-Christ.
Some commenters also prodded the Malaysian Islamic Religious Department (Jakim) to investigate and take action on the organisers, despite the event taking place outside the country.
The event, organised by Singapore-based Muslim advocacy group Syabab SG in an underground carpark of a mosque, had been criticised by Muslims in the city-state, particularly for naming the event “Zouq”.
Zouk is incidentally the name of a popular nightclub chain in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, in addition to annual beach dance party ZoukOut.
Syabab SG could not be contacted by The Malay Mail Online for comments at the time of writing.
In Malaysia, the Umno-linked “Selawat Perdana” was held in the compound of Putra Mosque in Putrajaya on March 21 and billed as “a night loving Allah and his messenger”.
It reportedly drew hundreds of thousands Muslims dressed in white robes commonly worn by the Arabs.
The organiser was a group called Selawat Perdana Secretariat, which is linked to Umno through youth group Gerakan Belia Gagasan 1Malaysia and advised by former Johor mufti Datuk Noh Gadut.
There, a “Ya hanana” performance was held and recorded, prompting some to see parallels with the Singapore video.
Although qasidah itself predates Islam, “Ya hanana” or its other name “Zaharaddin” is believed to be more recent and was popularised by Indonesia-born Muslim preacher Habib Syech Abdul Qadir as-Seggaf.
Syech, who professes to be a direct descendant of Muhammad, led the chant at the Putrajaya event.
Among those critical of the event were former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin and controversial writer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, pointing out its “excessive” worship of the prophet.
Islam is becoming increasingly prominent in Umno as the nationalist party seeks to capture portions of the Malay heartland alienated by rival party PAS’ move to the centre.
Umno’s young ulama wing ILMU led by popular preacher Fathul Bari Mat Jahya had increased its profile among the party.
The party also tried to court top preacher and former PAS member Kazim Elias into its supreme council last year, but the offer was declined following brickbats that the appointment was seen as a tokenism.
