'PAS sidelining Bon Odori like it did to Mak Yong in Kelantan' - Sheer intolerance

'PAS sidelining Bon Odori like it did to Mak Yong in Kelantan'


The move by PAS to sideline the Bon Odori festival by urging Muslims not to attend the cultural festival was just like what it did to Mak Yong dance for decades in Kelantan, said Sisters in Islam (SIS).

In a statement today, the women's rights group slammed the Islamic party and other like-minded authorities and figures for promoting intolerance and bigotry in a plural and multicultural society.

"Let’s face it. Islamic religious political parties, authorities and figures in Malaysia have a problem with cultural traditions and practices, whether other people’s or ours.

"PAS has not outwardly declared the Bon Odori as haram as it did with the Mak Yong in 1991. Nevertheless, their views may impact Muslims in Malaysia, who may seriously reconsider and heed their call not to participate," said SIS.

Sidelined ever since PAS recaptured Kelantan in 1990 under menteri besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the ban on Mak Yong was made official in 1998 through the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Control Enactment passed by the Kelantan state assembly.

"It wasn’t until 2019 that the Mak Yong was performed after almost 30 years of being banned from the public stage. Even then, women were still prohibited from performing the Mak Yong, its content and dialogue modified supposedly in compliance to Syariah as warranted by the Kelantan state government," said SIS.

Religious Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad


Previously, Religious Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad told Muslims not to attend Bon Odori, claiming that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) had researched Bon Odori and believed that it would lead Muslims astray.

Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, however, disagreed with the minister's view that the event was religious in nature and asked Idris to attend the event himself.

Jakim’s extensive budget

SIS questioned how Jakim arrived at its finding on the Japanese summer festival.

"Is Jakim’s extensive budget spent studying and analysing different cultures and religions worldwide? What kind of expertise is now available in Jakim to critically assess, evaluate and directly engage the people of Japan and Malaysia and explain to all of us the elements of the Bon Odori festival in Malaysia that would lead to a violation of akidah?"

The vocal NGO said Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor held a similar view while Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin deemed it within his purview to tell the organisers how their festival should be renamed to avoid confusion with the original festival.

"Who is holding these religious authorities accountable for their claims? Can they be taken to task and questioned?

"PAS, Jakim, and religious figures are not confident that Muslims in Malaysia can discern between their faith and appreciation of cultural practices, performances and festivals. It seems that Muslims in Malaysia must be policed at all times, in thought and practice. Only PAS and Jakim know what is best for us Muslims in Malaysia," it said.

Despite the Selangor sultan’s decree, SIS said PAS' move to continue calling Muslims to stay away from the festival has raised question of which authority will prevail in the cacophony of voices of authorities.

"The statements by the religious minister, PAS and the muftis of Penang and Perlis continue to promote intolerance and bigotry in a plural and multicultural society.

"Islam should not be made the cause of difficulty for Muslims to co-exist with people of different faiths, beliefs and cultures. Inclusivity is one of the important traits for living in a harmonious multicultural setting.

SIS then urged Malaysians not to waste their time and intellectual capacities on these bigoted decisions that aim to divide and tarnish the values of inclusiveness in the society.