JAIS apologises to band By Alfian Zohri and Mohd Tahir August 27, 2008 Categories: News
The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) yesterday apologised to the eightpiece NRG band for stopping their performance during a raid at The Pub, Holiday Inn Glenmarie, Shah Alam, early on Aug 16. The band members had been issued with summonses for allegedly consuming alcohol and were asked to attend a counselling session and to facilitate further investigations at Jais yesterday. Jais offered the apology after the counselling session in Shah Alam and the band members accepted it readily. The group said they were relieved that the matter had been resolved and that they now understand that Jais was only doing its job. Jais officers had raided the entertainment outlet at 1am following a complaint that Muslims were consuming alcohol in the premises. Some 55 patrons had also been issued with summonses on suspicion of consuming alcohol. The case sparked an outcry among the local music fraternity who charged that Jais was overzealous and high-handed in its actions against Muslim musicians who performed in entertainment outlets. Jais assistant public relations director Mohd Hidayat Abd Rani said the session with the band members was to clarify what happened during the raid. "If we did not issue summonses to the band members, we would be seen as practising double standards. "Of the 55 patrons served with summonses, seven have been charged in court for consuming alcohol. They are currently receiving counselling from us," he said. NRG band leader Jasminor Jamil said: "It's all right now. We are happy that the case is over and we understand that Jais was only carrying out its duties. "They apologised for stopping our performance and we are happy that this matter has come to an end." <http://www.mmail.com.my/JAIS_apologises_to_band.aspx#><http://www.mmail.com.my/emailafriend.aspx?t=JAIS+apologises+to+band&id=a9c4d36f-c66f-4621-a83b-84516beb40d2>
