Advertisement
Malaysians mock all-male circus act for conservative north
The Great British Circus Malaysia announced a male-only act for Kelantan state in an apparent bid to abide by strict Islamist guidelines
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Malaysians have reacted with a blend of humour and bemusement after a travelling circus from Britain announced a special all-male performance at their next stop in Kelantan state, to abide by strict entertainment guidelines set by the governing Islamist party.
Advertisement
The Great British Circus, a UK band of entertainers who hold shows across Southeast Asia, will pitch its tents in Kelantan’s capital of Kota Baharu for three weeks from October 26, its latest stop on a tour of Malaysia.
The state, governed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) since 1990, imposes strict rules on entertainment, including bans on pubs and discotheques and prohibitions on any activity deemed to clash with the tenets of Islam.
Malaysia has been on an increasingly conservative tilt in recent years, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration banning rainbow pride watches and with kill switches introduced for concerts to close down events deemed hurtful to the sensitivities of the country’s Malay-Muslim majority.
“For the first time, the Great British Circus will present an exclusive performance with only male artists,” the circus said in a Malay-language promotional post on its Facebook page on Monday.
The circus, which has toured Malaysia regularly for 10 years, moves on to Kelantan after a month of putting on shows with both male and female performers in neighbouring Perlis.
Advertisement