A concert featuring scantily clad dancers at a Buddhist festival has stirred controversy in the conservative Malaysian state of Kelantan, with some people accusing the state government of double standards for allowing the performance to go ahead.
The Nov 24 concert was held in conjunction with the Loy Krathong festival in the vicinity of a Buddhist temple in Bachok, 25km east of the state capital Kota Baru. Bachok has a sizeable Malaysian-Thai community.
Videos and pictures that have gone viral show Thai artiste Thungpang Chanoknan performing with her dancers on a stage in sexy attire, with the crowd dancing along.
Several online commentators pointed out what they saw as double standards by Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), which governs Kelantan, questioning why such a “vulgar performance” was allowed, given the party’s previous criticisms of international performances in the country.
The Islamist party had said concerts by foreign artistes were against the values of Malaysia’s Muslim-majority population and will promote a hedonistic culture.
“Yes. PAS is (a) hypocrite. When concerts are held elsewhere, it is haram (illegal) even if they know that Malaysia is a multiracial and multi-religion country,” said a netizen on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Kelantan women’s wing questioned the permissibility of such events in the east coast state and demanded that the state government take action.
“Or is this concert exempted from the state’s Entertainment Control enactment?” asked its chief Nor Azmiza Mamat, referring to local regulations governing entertainment.
In response, Kelantan local government, housing, health and environment committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah said that while the event had the necessary permits from the local authority, the organiser had breached some guidelines.
These included the failure to ensure the artiste complied with the dress code and allowing Muslims to attend the event.
As a result, the organiser could be fined up to RM10,000 (S$2,860), he added.
The temple chief has appealed for calm.
“We hope all quarters will not muddy the waters, which have been clear for so long. When the water becomes muddied, no one can see anything and there is nothing to be achieved,” said chief monk Phor Than Plen in a Facebook post.
The monk said the festival has been one of the main events at Wat Pathumviharn in the last 29 years, and the concerts have attracted many young people to the temple.
“We welcome the young people as it helped them to mingle with the monks, learn about religious practices and participate in other (religious) activities. Additionally, concerts also provide entertainment and help ease daily stress,” he said.
