APA ORANG LAIN KATA TENTANG KONSERT TAUTAN KASIH - MAWI.

DARI MALAYSIAKINI............

Mawi rocks Kota Bharu!

It was a concert unlike no other - there were no screaming fans, no frenzy, no intimate young couples - as thousands came to witness heartthrob singing sensation Asmawi Ani or Mawi performing in Kelantan's first major pop concert in decades.

Last night, more than 40,000 people thronged Padang Perdana, Kota Bharu for the “Konsert Tautan Kasih”, held in conjunction of the declaration of Kota Bharu as an Islamic City at the Stadium Muhamad IV.

These unlikely revelers went home satisfied and hungry for more.

The success of the concert proved that the decision to hold the concert - despite objection from the PAS ulamak wing - is a boon for the party.

Having lost the support of the youths during the 2004 general election, the party’s renewed determination managed to attract thousands of youths to listen to messages rendered by the party's mursyidul am (spiritual leader) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who is also the Kelantan mentri besar.

“PAS had made a brilliant move. It is an indirect avenue for the leaders to communicate with the youths who had shunned them before. Although we know that they came to see Mawi and not Nik Aziz but still they listened to what the leader had to say,” said Parti Keadilan Rakyat activist Saifuddin Nasution when met yesterday.

Cleaner than Sure Heboh

He believed that the concert also proved the state government’s capabilities in providing clean entertainment to the youths, when other entertainment events such as TV3's Sure Heboh concerts had been criticised for contributing to social ills among youths.

“PAS has a commitment to protecting the sanctity of Islam. This is well understood among the Malay community but now it is opening up to the moderates. I think their latest strategy will give their political rival a run for their money.”

Whatever the political implications the concert has brought PAS, the youths who attended the concert were clearly satisfied with the show.

Polytechnic students Aziana Anuar, 20 and her friend Alisa said that this was the best show ever held in Kota Bharu and also the largest.

"Of course they had concerts held here before but they were nasyid groups. And there weren't so many people before. I think this is the biggest ever held here."

Having attended concerts in Kuala Lumpur, the girls admitted that yesterday's show has a different atmosphere.

It was crazy

“Lain gila sini! (it's a lot different here). In KL, we would probably jumped over the fence (separating the crowd from the stage). Here we are more aware of the feelings of others. There were no couples. No one shouting in hysteria."

Despite the different scenario, they claim that it did not stop them from having fun.

"Oh yes, we had fun among us girls. We get to see Mawi perform live. Athough we didn't get to meet him at close range but I think it was worth it."

Do they want more? "Of course!" they shrieked.

Entertainment journalist from local magazine Hai! Norhafizah Ahmad - who was among the 70 press representatives who accepted the state government’s invitation to cover the event - said the unique feature at the concert was definately the segregation of women spectators from the men.

“I believe this is why the crowd is tamer as compared to the many concerts that I have seen before in KL and other states. The atmosphere may border on sombre but you can see that the crowd enjoyed themselves. On that point, you have to commend the organisers,” she said.

Heartwarming

Another journalist who declined to be named said she was impressed that the organiser had started the event with congregational maghrib prayers.

“It's really heartwarming to see more than thousands of people - youths and their families - gather and pray together before they proceeded to see the show. In KL, we have to find our own way to perform our prayers so many decide to abandon performing their prayers.”

Apart from Mawi, the three hour concert also saw the performance of nasyid group Mestica, former rock singer-turned religious teacher Akill Hayy and students from Pusat Pengajian Pondok Moden Bachok.

Mawi performs tonight at the Stadium Sultan Muhamad IV. Entrance is free.

TAHNIAH TOK GURU DAN RAKYAT KELANTAN

Roslan SMS menulis.....

Saya berkesempatan melihat siaran langsung konsert tautan kasih di KB melalui web tv semalam. Walaupun dalam keadaan kualiti siaran yang tersangkut-sangkut lantaran ratusan ribu rakyat Malaysia dari seluruh dunia yang menyesakkan laluan, dengan penuh terharu saya menanggap diri saya sebagai salah seorang saksi terhadap pembentukan suatu sejarah besar dalam gerakan dakwah Islamiyah dalam negara.

Tanpa memperdulikan para skeptik di sepanjang simpang-siur perjalanan, Tok Guru dan rakan-rakan pimpinan di Kelantan dengan dokongan taat setia rakyat jelatanya telah dengan yakin dan berani meneruskan program eksperimen ini, dengan hasrat murni mahu menjelmakan model konsert hiburan berteraskan Islam. Matlamatnya untuk menambat hati golongan muda khususnya agar dapat bertaut kepada satu konsep yang bakal mendekatkan diri mereka dengan Tuhan, berlainan dengan konsert konvensional yang menolak sama-sekali batas-batas hukum.

Dari apa yang saya saksikan bermula dengan solat berjemaah di padang perdana dan dikuti dengan ucapan para pimpinan termasuk Tok Guru sendiri, konsert ini memang berbeza dari konsert-konsert lain.

Lagu dan nyanyian pada konsert ini tidak sunyi dari membesar dan mengagungkan Allah swt, siapa sekali pun penyanyinya.

Suasana konsert anjuran kerajaan negeri itu sahaja telah cukup menampakkan perbezaan ketara. Para pengunjung dipisahkan antara lelaki, wanita dan mereka yang berkeluarga. Pemisahan ini diterima sebagai satu tuntutan agama tanpa banyak rungutan dan protes dari mereka yang hadir.

Saya tambah terharu apabila Tok Guru dalam ucapannya menyatakan bahawa, banyak perkara-perkara baru yang kerajaan negerinya lakukan tidak terfikir semasa beliau dan rakan-rakan belajar di madrasah. Pajak gadai katanya, ketika belajar dikatakan haram kerana adanya unsur riba, lalu setelah berkuasa tambah beliau prosesnya diubah dan lahirlah Ar Rahn iaitu sistem pajak gadai Islam yang semakin popular di Kelantan hari ini.

Demikianlah juga dengan konsert ini, saya kira yang pentingnya adalah kesungguhan dan keihklasan semua pihak.

Sebagaimana kata Hj Husam Musa dalam ucapannya, berhibur-berhibur juga namun nama baik Kelantan kena dijaga. Saya turut tertarik dengan serangkap pantun (antara yang banyak rangkap) yang Husam sampaikan:

Kelapa pandan halia muda
Tata sopan kita, malam ini kena betul-betul jaga.

Ternyata meleset segala tohmahan dan serangan terhadap Tok Guru dan rakyat Kelantan
berhubung dengan penganjuran konsert alternatif ini. Mudah-mudahan konsert pada malam ini pula sempena pengisytiharan Kota Bharu Bandaraya Islam akan turut berjaya menepati matlamat kerajaan negeri.

Tahniah Tok Guru dan tahniah rakyat Kelantan, mudah-mudahan Allah swt sentiasa memberkati usaha kalian semua. Berjayalah Islam di Bumi Serambi Mekah insyallah.