Cultural activist says Kelantan lifting Mak Yong ban good, but ...

The Kelantanese Mak Yong dance is more than just an art form that can be regulated by various restrictions on its performance, according to socio-cultural researcher Eddin Khoo.

Khoo, founder of Pusaka, an NGO working on the preservation of Malay cultural art forms, nevertheless welcomed the Kelantan state government's reported move to lift its 28-year-old ban on the public performance of Mak Yong in the state.

"I will give credit to the Kelantan state government on their willingness to lift the ban.

"However, just lifting the ban does not address many issues related to Mak Yong," Khoo told Malaysiakini when contacted.

"There are still many restrictions imposed on the Mak Yong performance.

"Mak Yong is more than just an art form. It is also about the culture and traditions of the Kelantanese people," he said.

Eddin Khoo

The News Straits Times today quoted Kelantan deputy menteri besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah as saying that those who wished to stage Mak Yong performances could now do so after they complying with syariah requirements including making it compulsory performers to cover their aurat (exposed skin areas)

The organisers also need to ensure that men and women did not mix both on stage and in the audience.

"There also must be no element of worship in the performances.

"Similar guidelines are also imposed for wayang kulit (shadow puppet play) and other traditional artistic Malay art performances.

"We want to ensure only Islamic-related performances are shown to the audience," said Mohd Amar after a state exco meeting in Kota Bharu.

Khoo said imposing such restrictions on Mak Yong performances would essentially reduce it to being "meaningless" and devoid of substance beyond the movements.

Describing Mak Yong as a heritage handed down through generations, Khoo questioned whether the Kelantan state government had engaged or consulted with heirs of Mak Yong practitioners before coming up with the guidelines.

A Mak Yong performance

"To a certain extent, Mak Yong has been recognised as a form of psychological therapy.

"In essence, Mak Yong is much more than just an art form," said Khoo who noted that it should not be regulated strictly based on what is deemed right or wrong under state law.

On Sunday, Astro Awani reported that a Mak Yong performance was staged in public at the Kelantan Art and Heritage Department auditorium for the first time since it was banned in 1991.

The tale of the Raja Besar Ho Gading was, however, "modified" to exclude female performers and its dialogue was first vetted by the state government as well as Kelantan Mufti's Department in May. - Mkini