Snippet From The Dewan Negara

Kuala Lumpur 9 May –‘Berkemban’ or the wearing of cloth or sarong tied above the bosom among ‘makyong’ dancers and artistes became the subject of heated debate in the Dewan Negara (Senate) today when several members, especially women questioned the appropriateness of the attire.

The issue was set off when Senator Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff got up to defend the decision of the Kelantan government to outlaw the performance of makyong in the state on the grounds of un-Islamic elements and the factor of the dancers’ attire which run against the teachings of Islam.

Her statement was met by the differing viewpoint of Senator Datuk Dr. Norraesah Mohamad.

“When we watch a makyong performance, we should be looking at the choreography, finger movements and expressions of the dancers which impart certain meanings, not at their bosoms,” she said.

Senator Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain then suggested that in order to keep the performance of makyong alive, the dancers’ attire should be changed to a more modest one, in keeping with the concept of Islam Hadhari.

“Is the beauty of a makyong performance lost without exposure of the upper chest? Could’nt the attire be modified to be more in line with Islam Hadhari?” she asked.

The exchange took place when Senator Datuk Dr Jins Shamsuddin was debating the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail’s officiating address at the opening of the Third Term of the Eleventh Parliamentary Session at the Dewan Negara.

Jins, who agreed with the view, also admitted the “exposed upper chest” style of dressing in some ways interferes with or obscures the artistic value of a makyong performance when many among the spectators tend to ally sexual elements to the performance.

“This is what happens when there are those who use their ‘dirty mind’ in evaluating the artistic merits of things like this,” he said.

The presence of Jins, who is regarded as the representive of performing artistes, was seized upon by Senator Wan Ubaidah Omar, who compared the “exposed upper chest” issue of makyong with the tendency of local artistes to dress in the “berkemban” or cloth tied above the bosom style which is regarded as not being in line with local culture.

“If too many among female artistes dress like this won’t male artistes be spending their time staring at their bosoms?” she said drawing laughter from the other senate members.

-Bernama

What it all comes down to is, should religious values be sacrificed for the sake of the preservation of an art form?