At Bahrain's malls, Michael Jackson is subject of giggles, consternation

DONNA ABU-NASR Associated Press MANAMA, Bahrain -- For the staff at Bahrain's malls, the person covered from head to toe in a black cloak, gloves and glasses appeared to be a rich, doting Saudi mother, leaping from one aisle to the next to select children's shoes, clothes and toys. But for some salespeople there were things that didn't add up: why would a "woman" wear a man's shoes? Why the bodyguards? And why did the person's fluid movements seem so familiar? "For me, it was the way he moved that made me sure it was Michael Jackson," said Sharfudeen Kadeer Meera, a salesman at a Radio Shack. "He shops the way he dances, going from one place to the other at dizzying speed." Since his June acquittal on child molestation charges in California, Jackson has been living on the island nation of Bahrain, the guest of Sheik Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of Bahrain's king. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, has long been friends with the prince and reportedly converted to Islam after a visit here in 1989. Jackson's new home is very different from California. The area of the whole country is only 300 square miles -- just 3 1/2 times larger than the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. Beyond its main city of Manama's palm tree-lined boulevards, luxury office buildings and malls, the country has the feel of a sleepy village -- the perfect hideout for someone seeking relaxation. Jackson's fans are thrilled to have him in Bahrain. Maasoumah Ibrahim was so excited about glimpsing him in January in his black cloak disguise at the mall where she works that she repeated the story to every one of her 13 siblings. "I follow his news," said the 31-year-old fan, who was a cashier at the food court at the time and is now a civil servant. "The trial didn't have any effect on me. One cannot believe everything." Other Bahrainis do not share her enthusiasm. "I'm not against him being in Bahrain _ but against him using Bahrain to run away from his problems," said Hani Bucheery, a 37-year-old operations manager at a security company. The media here have treated Jackson gently, limiting their reports to news and rumors of his sightings. Even fiery lawmaker Adel al-Maawda, one of the country's most conservative clerics, says Jackson is welcome to stay as long as he behaves. But he and other conservative clerics also have concerns. "He should keep his concerts and his effeminate manners away from us," said al-Maawda, who was behind a drive several years ago to ban Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram from performing here. "We don't want him turning Bahrain into Las Vegas." On Wednesday, a Bahraini official close to Jackson's entourage denied reports the singer had left the country for good. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said Jackson had gone on vacation to Europe with his family, was in touch daily with Sheik Abdullah and was coming back in a few days. Jackson has been busy since his move. He has written a new song, "I Have This Dream," which should be released soon on Bahraini label 2 Seas Records. The label belongs to Sheik Abdullah. The all-star charity Hurricane Katrina song includes Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Ciara, Keyisha Cole, James Ingram, Jackson's brother Jermaine, Shanice, the Rev. Shirley Caesar and the O'Jays. Jackson is also negotiating a position as a consultant with a Bahrain-based company that plans to set up theme parks and music academies across the Middle East. AAJ Holdings Ltd., owned by Bahraini businessman Ahmed Abu Bakr Janahi, has said it wanted to hire the 47-year-old pop star to give advice on setting up entertainment businesses. Since moving to the region, Jackson on forays to malls has usually been accompanied by a female assistant, a few bodyguards and -- on some occasions -- three children, believed to be his. At some stores he has been able to shop mostly in peace. "As soon as we guessed it was Michael Jackson, we started playing his songs," said Bijesh Kumar, a supervisor at Euphoria music store. "But he was so scared, he told his bodyguards to stop the music." Jackson did sign autographs for the staff, Kumar said. At other malls, however, he has had to flee. On the morning of Jan. 25, Jackson, the three children and assistants headed into a Mothercare store at Marina Mall. Jackson spent an hour sprinting around, buying $200 in clothes and toys, said cashier Laila al-Aradi. But while he was waiting for an assistant to pay, al-Aradi said she noticed that the person in the woman's abaya was wearing men's shoes. "I looked up at him and mouthed, 'Michael Jackson,"' she said. "But he wagged his finger to caution me against saying that aloud." Then Jackson made his way to a shoe store. Salesman Lateef Mulla Muttath thought he was assisting a wealthy Saudi woman, but then heard a group of Bahraini women saying Jackson was in the mall. "I looked at the person's shoes and found they were men's shoes. That's when I guessed it was Michael Jackson," he said. By then the crowd was growing and Mulla Muttath had to seek the help of his manager, Abd Nazir. Jackson wanted to leave through an emergency exit, but since there was no emergency, Nazir could not use that door. So the entourage tried the main entrance but that was packed with fans and photographers. The group took an elevator to a second floor, and tried going down a set of stairs to a staff exit. But the crowds had already parked there, said Nazir. At that point, the woman with Jackson asked the driver to get scarves for the children, which she wrapped around their faces before Nazir led them through a back door. "Michael Jackson said 'Thank you' and shook my hand," said Nazir. "My family told me I'm a lucky man." (AP)