the local papers today reported that the malaysian government had banned an upcoming sold out singapore dance theatre's ballet performance in kuala lumpur on the 7 apr. and the reason cited by insiders - indecent costumes where men wear tights and women wear tutus...
when i first read it, i was like what-the-.... it is getting a little too much if you ask me. this is the third year running where the dance theatre is staging a performance and there had never been any problems previously. added to this, the whole logic of indecency is illogical considering tights and tutus have been worn since the 1800s by ballet troups the world over.
then again, when i look it from the malaysian's point of view, i can only conclude one thing - the malaysian general election is round the corner and some political body (we all know who) are trying to use this opportunity to ramp up and win some brownie points to get support from the local religious conservatives. and this is important as the conservative/ opposition parties won quite a windfall in the last elections and it is wise to take a conservative stance before accusations start flying again. this is especially so in malaysia where religious fundamentals are always quick to accuse other parties about being non-religious.
the arts is a victim of politics as i see it...
it's a sad sad day. for the arts scene in malaysia, and for malaysians as a whole. then again, who am i to comment... i am not malaysian.
sighs...
but come to think of it, it would be so interesting to see ballet dancers wearing full body baju kurongs and tudungs... or better still, in full middle eastern burqas. probably see them tripping all over the stage... haha...
picture from http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_785453.html
afternote 1: a minister clarified 6 apr that no license was granted becos of an admin lapse on the part of their local co-organiser and that they have approved the license yesterday (altho the organisers swear blind they did). hmmm... approved on 5 apr expect performance to start on 7 apr. and everyone is still in singapore. haha... what a joke. well... the cynical side of me still wonders how much of what was explained is true, now that the spotlight has been switched on and the results of political brownie points achieved.
afternote 2: new twist reported on 7 apr, the malaysian authorities have been/ are being slammed for banning any performance that has effeminate persons, transexuals or anything that shows any linkage to anything glbts... goodness wonders if this has anything to do with the ban of sdt's performance.
when i first read it, i was like what-the-.... it is getting a little too much if you ask me. this is the third year running where the dance theatre is staging a performance and there had never been any problems previously. added to this, the whole logic of indecency is illogical considering tights and tutus have been worn since the 1800s by ballet troups the world over.
then again, when i look it from the malaysian's point of view, i can only conclude one thing - the malaysian general election is round the corner and some political body (we all know who) are trying to use this opportunity to ramp up and win some brownie points to get support from the local religious conservatives. and this is important as the conservative/ opposition parties won quite a windfall in the last elections and it is wise to take a conservative stance before accusations start flying again. this is especially so in malaysia where religious fundamentals are always quick to accuse other parties about being non-religious.
the arts is a victim of politics as i see it...
it's a sad sad day. for the arts scene in malaysia, and for malaysians as a whole. then again, who am i to comment... i am not malaysian.
sighs...
but come to think of it, it would be so interesting to see ballet dancers wearing full body baju kurongs and tudungs... or better still, in full middle eastern burqas. probably see them tripping all over the stage... haha...
picture from http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_785453.html
afternote 1: a minister clarified 6 apr that no license was granted becos of an admin lapse on the part of their local co-organiser and that they have approved the license yesterday (altho the organisers swear blind they did). hmmm... approved on 5 apr expect performance to start on 7 apr. and everyone is still in singapore. haha... what a joke. well... the cynical side of me still wonders how much of what was explained is true, now that the spotlight has been switched on and the results of political brownie points achieved.
afternote 2: new twist reported on 7 apr, the malaysian authorities have been/ are being slammed for banning any performance that has effeminate persons, transexuals or anything that shows any linkage to anything glbts... goodness wonders if this has anything to do with the ban of sdt's performance.
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