TRADITIONAL Mak Yong dance-drama theatre performances should not need the approval of Kelantan’s state administrators to be performed, said cultural activist Eddin Khoo.

He said the cultural heritage had existed for “hundreds of years”. The PAS state government banned Mak Yong in the 1990s, citing elements bordering on fantasy and ancient pre-Islamic beliefs.

The Malay dance has resurfaced in the media after a recent call by United Nations special rapporteur Karima Bennounce for Kelantan to lift the ban on Mak Yong, wayang kulit and several other traditional art forms.

Following the call, the state government set up a special committee to study whether Mak Yong is shariah-compliant.

Activists, however, said that PAS had ignored a similar call from the UN less than two years ago.

According to Khoo, who founded and helms Pusaka, a civil society body that promotes traditional culture, Mak Yong has a history in the east coast and northern states that goes back hundreds of years.

“Does a cultural heritage, which has been rooted in the region for hundreds of years, need the blessing of the government to continue?

“What does this say about culture in Malaysia if we treat Mak Yong like this?” Khoo told The Malaysian Insight.

Mak Yong was brought to Kelantan by the Pattani people more than 200 years ago and expanded to neighbouring states like Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.

Despite the Kelantan ban, Mak Yong is still performed at cultural events elsewhere, and in private in Kelantan.

Among the reasons for the ban on Mak Yong in Kelantan include the worshipping of elements forbidden in Islam and restrictions on women participating in performances in regards to aurat.

Khoo, meanwhile, questioned whether the the new committee formed by the state to look into Mak Yong truly understood the tradition of the dance as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.

“Does the committee understand Mak Yong? Mak Yong, which is rooted in Kelantan and southern Thailand society, has its own philosophy and worldview.

“It is wrong to see Mak Yong as a mere performance and dance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mak Yong actor Rosnan Rahman said there needed to be middle ground between the Kelantan government and performers to ensure the traditional dance can be performed again in the state.

Rosnan, who has performed in Mak Yong for almost two decades, said he would have no qualms about sticking to guidelines set by the state government, should there be any.

“The state government and performers have to sit down and discuss the matter. They cannot give (separate) statements,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the state government may have implemented the ban due to ignorance of the dance’s true nature, which could be miscontrued as going against Islamic teachings.

Rosnan said that today, the dance no longer carries elements and rituals deemed wrong in Islam.

“Maybe there is a middle ground that can be used to solve the tangled mess,” he said.

Associate professor Dr Hardy Shafii of Universiti Sains Malaysia echoed Rosnan’s sentiments, but questioned who would initiate the talks between both parties.

He said while the performers did not have the upper hand to initiate discussions, they are willing to negotiate on what works best for both parties.

“The conclusion should not be to put the blame on someone. The performers are willing to negotiate and tolerate some things but we should hear from (the state government) as well,” he said.

He added having both parties give their input would benefit the dance in the long run.

“Sometimes, performers and academics may lack understanding in certain areas outside of the arts and those on the other side may not understand the arts as much as we do.

“So, we have to understand one thing and the meaning behind every dance when negotiating,” he said.

Perak DAP publicity secretary and Keranji assemblyman Chong Zhemin also urged the Kelantan government to lift the ban on Mak Yong and wayang kulit.

He said cultural performances should be appreciated and passed on to future generations.

He also questioned if the ban would extended to Terengganu and Pahang, states also led by PAS. – March 17, 2019.