Kedah exco at odds over stage-show guidelines

A guideline that prevents adult females from appearing in Chinese New Year stage performances has drawn flak from a Kedah state exco member who is from PKR.

Environment, Chinese affairs and transport committee chairperson Tan Chow Kang told Oriental Daily News the requirement - applied only to Muslims since 2008 - should not be extended to non-Muslims.

It was reported that the guideline had been issued on Jan 9 by fellow-exco Hamdan Mohamed Khalib to Kota Setar district officer Bakar Din, for performances ahead of Chinese New Year on Feb 10 and 11.

Hamdan (left), a PAS appointee, heads the health, youth and sports, culture, art, heritage and biotechnology portfolio.

Tan said he will assist the Chinese community in dealing with difficulties that arise from implementation of the guideline, which states that:

1. Officials and performers must be decently dressed and not in revealing clothes.

2. Only males are allowed to sing or dance; as for females, only secondary school girls are allowed to take part.

3. Singers are encouraged to choose songs with a religious theme or positive element and which do not ‘go overboard’. The lists of performers and songs have to be submitted ahead.

4. Performers can only perform to recorded or karaoke music.

5. The state government has the right to stop the programme immediately if songs or dances ‘go overboard’.

Tan said it is acceptable to demand that performers be decently dressed.

However, the move to stop adult females from performing - and require songs with a religious theme or positive messages - should not be applied to events involving non-Muslims.

This also contradicts state government policy, he noted, citing the Christmas carnival jointly organised by the state government and Christian churches last year, at which Taiwanese pop singers had performed without this leading to any problems.

Contacted today, Hamdan replied in a text message that he will call a press conference at 10am tomorrow, at the state administration building, to explain the guideline.

Both the MCA and Gerakan have criticised the move.

Yesterday, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said it threatens and erodes the rights of non-Muslims as enshrined in the federal constitution.