The Kelantan government has been urged to review its prohibition on the Makyong, a traditional form of dance-drama from northern Malaysia.

Makyong activist Rohani Mat Zain, 55,said this was because

performances such as the menora, traditional wayang kulit, the main puteri and muay thai were allowed to be performed albeit with some modifications.

Rohani, 55, dubbed the Makyong primadona in the state after the era of Khadijah Awang, futher said there were no longer any elements of worshipping in the dance-drama.

"We now start the dance with doa selamat prayers and take out any elements of worship used in the past.

"However, we require both males and females to take part in the dance to act out all the characters and the musicians are all men," she told B ernama here today.

The Makyong is among Kelantan's oldest traditions and has been recognised as a world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

- Bernama