Malaysian state bans women from performing on stage with men

Text by: RFI Follow

It is a law that worries non-Muslim communities in Malaysia. The entertainment law of Terengganu State in eastern Malaysia, in particular, prohibits women from performing on stage in front of men.

Publicity

From our correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Gabrielle Maréchaux

Now the entertainment law soon to be implemented in the Malaysian state of Terengganu will ban women from dancing or singing in front of men, performing performances at Muslim prayer times, seeing men and women on stage at the same time , except for shows for children and to offer music that can train the audience to beat the beat.

If Malaysia is a Muslim country, it also has large Chinese and Indian communities who are worried about this new legislative arsenal which will also concern them.

Not the first state to apply this type of law

The association of Sino-Malaysians particularly deplored this next reality which they say will give a bad image of Malaysia and would jeopardize the economy.

Terengannu is not the first Malaysian federal state to implement such laws, however, since neighboring Kelantan has had similar laws since 1998.

Last year a United Nations rapporteur worried about the disappearance of the Mak Yong, a Malaysian theater dating from the 17th century and listed as an intangible heritage by Unesco.

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• Malaysia
• Religion
• Womens rights
• Women

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