TERENGGANU’S PAS government stands by its gender segregation policy after being criticised for cancelling a music festival on Pulau Redang, reported The Star.

The daily quoted state exco for tourism, culture and information technology Ariffin Deraman as saying new stage-show guidelines for organisers to follow are to “ensure proper control of situations during such events”.

The guidelines by the state Tourism Department include segregating male and female performers and audience members.

Only male singers and dancers are permitted to perform onstage to a mixed audience. Performances by women can be viewed only by a female audience, in an enclosed venue.

Organisers must also ensure that men and women in the audience do not mix if they are not family.

Ariffin said theatre performances can have both male and female actors onstage, as long as the shows are not “excessive”.

“There was no problem during the closing of the recent Pesta Pantai (Beach Festival), where men and women shared the stage. The performances weren’t excessive.”

He said shows by non-Muslims for a non-Muslim audience will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Apart from banning the “excessive mixing” of male and female performers onstage, the guidelines state that songs must not contain “excessive or careless” lyrics, and performers must not use “excessive instruments” that can influence the audience to follow the beat.

Performers must also be properly dressed, meaning their “aurat” (parts of the body that must be covered according to Islam) must not be shown.

Only children are allowed to perform onstage in a mixed group.

Yesterday, The Star reported that the Islamist party-controlled state axed the music festival on Pulau Redang after a promotional video of the event – showing women in bikinis, a club scene, and activities like yoga, snorkelling and beach volleyball – offended some members of a Facebook group.

Ariffin said the event, which had been planned from October 12 to 14, could lead to “moral degradation”, especially when alcohol was served.

“We’ve heard of all sorts of vice activities taking place for as long as the event has been held over the past five years. If we do not put a stop to this, our image as the state government will be tarnished,” the PAS lawmaker was quoted as saying.

The state government said the Island Music Festival 2018 organisers can appeal against the decision if they agree to heed the new guidelines.

The Star quoted a representative of the organisers as saying a meeting with the state government will be sought, to “clarify any misconceptions” that the event would be “unhealthy”.

“We will also explain that we intend to follow the new guidelines.” – October 4, 2018.