Foreign artistes to be barred from performing near Muslim holidays

 

Foreign artistes performing in Malaysia will soon be required to avoid holding performances during or on the eve of Islamic holidays.

This is unless they have received permission from the relevant Islamic authorities, according to Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) guidelines that will come into force in 2024.

The Islamic holidays listed in the new guidelines include the entire month of Ramadan, Islamic New Year (Awal Muharram), Prophet Muhammad's birthday, Israk and Mikraj, Nisfu Sya'ban, Nuzul Al-Quran, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and Hari Raya Haji.

Foreign artistes are not allowed to hold performances on these days to show respect for religious activities.

In comparison, Puspal’s previous guidelines from 2019 did not prohibit performances on the eve of these holidays, nor do they explicitly prohibit performances on religious holidays apart from Ramadan.

However, the new guidelines also give event organisers more leeway in holding foreign artiste performances around the National Day (Aug 31) and Malaysia Day (Sept 16) celebrations.

Dress code

Such performances cannot be held from Aug 25 to Sept 16 under the old guidelines. With the new guidelines, only the dates from Aug 30, Aug 31, Sept 15, and Sept 16 are off-limits.

As for dress codes, the new guidelines explicitly prohibit foreign male and female artistes from removing their clothes during their performances.

In addition, male performers are prohibited from crossdressing as women.

Puspal’s guidelines also govern filming activities by foreign crews in Malaysia. Among other requirements, their script and content must not defame Malaysia's security or enforcement agencies - such as the police or military.

Their scripts must also be evaluated and approved by Puspal.

In September last year, it was reported that the then Communications and Multimedia Ministry was drafting new Puspal guidelines since 2019 that will be ready by the end of the year.

The updated guidelines were published on Puspal's website on Dec 31 last year.

The new guidelines retain most of the old rules but added new conditions and provide clearer examples.

This guideline was earlier reported by several media outlets such as The Star.

The original report by The Star initially quoted Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, but the report was later removed and replaced with a new version that quotes an anonymous ministry official instead.

In a statement later, Communications and Digital Ministry said the minister had not made any statement regarding the guidelines.

It added that the updated guidelines were meant to “simplify and loosen conditions for relevant parties in conducting foreign film productions and performances by foreign artistes”.