“It’s a wayang kulit,” he said of the review, referring to the traditional shadow play but employing the term as a metaphor for deception, as it is sometimes used in Malaysian political discourse.
He told FMT it would be unlikely for the PAS government to change its stand on something it once branded as abhorrent to Islam.
He was commenting on Kelantan executive councillor Md Anizam Abd Rahman’s statement that the state had formed a committee to re-evaluate the shariah compliance of mak yong, a traditional genre of dance theatre.
Anizam was quoted in a news report on Wednesday as saying the committee was in the final stages of its study. His statement followed a call by a United Nations (UN) rapporteur for the lifting of Kelantan’s ban on mak yong, wayang kulit and several other traditional art forms.
Ghouse noted that PAS had ignored a similar UN call less than two years ago.
He speculated that the party had formed the review committee as a friendly gesture to Umno, its new political ally.
“In all probability, it has to do with the new-found facade of PAS as it adapts to Umno’s culture,” he said.
“Some PAS members are said to have been bestowed with Umno’s largesse. Having tasted the forbidden fruits of materialism, they suddenly realise what they have been missing.
“PAS has thus become worldly, enjoying the materialistic accoutrements. Umno, on its part, has donned the skull cap of dubious piety.”
He said PAS had inflicted “irreparable damage” on mak yong and resuscitating the dying art form would be impossible today.
Years of neglect had caused it to lose its vibrancy and appeal, he added. “Thanks to PAS, mak yong will soon be reduced to a diorama in the museum.”
In 2005, Unesco gave mak yong world heritage status, calling it one of “the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”.
It is a tradition with roots in Kelantan, northern Terengganu and southern Thailand. The phrase “mak yong” is likely derived from “makhiang”, the rice spirit of pre-Islamic tradition. The dance used to be performed as part of harvest celebrations.
The PAS government banned it because of its association with animism.