Don’t tap hooves to Psy’s grooves, Muslims told

The Penang Muslim Network has asked Muslims to steer clear of the Korean superstar and his horse dance when he performs in the state next week.

GEORGE TOWN: South Korean rap superstar Psy’s Gangnam Style music video and horse dance step are a global sensation. However, the Penang Muslim Network is not tapping its hooves to his grooves.

The network’s coordinator Mohamed Hafiz Nordin urged Muslims to steer clear of Psy’s performance at the state-level Barisan Nasional Lunar New Year open-house celebration.

He said the South Korean star’s performance infringed on Islamic teachings and guidelines.

Hafiz also appealed to Muslim leaders such as Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and others to refrain from viewing the performance.

“I think to cancel Psy’s performance or appearance is asking too much as it may be costly, but I am asking Muslims to stay true to their religious values and to opt out from watching Psy,” he added.

Describing himself as a fundamentalist Muslim, Hafiz said there was no offence intended at Psy as he was a talented artiste in his own right.

However, his mode of performance, dance steps and dancers clad in seductive attire, were against the conservative wisdom of Islam.

Distasteful lyrics

There was also an issue over his lyrics, which were at times said to be distasteful, as even in Korea, there were sections of society there critical of him, Hafiz claimed.

The lyrics in Psy’s monster hit – “Oppa Gangnam Style” is said to represent the lifestyle of rich and famous Koreans, who reside in the upscale Gangnam neighbourhood, a suburban enclave near Seoul.

Hafiz, the former state PAS Youth head, urged Islamic-based non governmental organisations to band around and express their disapproval that an open-house had become a medium for a form of entertainment, which went against Asian or Islamic values.

He was certain that there were sections within the other communities, who were equally distrubed by Psy’s presence here.

“I am sure even the rigid followers of the Buddhist, Christians and Hindu faiths, would not favour such a performance,” he said.

Hafiz said the open-house was an occasion for average Malaysians to meet and interact with each other besides sampling the food and meeting with their respective politicians.

It should be an occasion where the people relate to politicians about their grouses or to praise those who had served them well.

Hafiz stressed that it should not become a venue for concerts to be held, especially one involving a foreign culture.

He also urged his party – PAS – to openly offer their objections.

Unnecessary spending

In another development, state PKR Youth head Amir Ghazali said bringing in Psy was a costly venture and the sum spent could instead be channelled to meaningful projects.

The funds for it could be put to better use, such as by helping out the senior citizens, the poor and the disabled, he added.

Amir said the scheduled performance by Psy showed how desperate BN had become in trying to regain Penang from Pakatan Rakyat.

The Korean superstar is scheduled to perform in Penang next Monday at the Han Chiang Private School ground for the BN’s Chinese New Year open house.