The hudud debacle does not appear to be dying down, with a group of artistes now claiming that the Islamic penal code will affect their livelihood.

In a joint press conference today, Association of Malaysian Chinese Artistes (AMCA) and Muzikita Malaysia said hudud would lead to greater Islamisation, which could affect careers in the entertainment sector.

AMCA chairperson Eddy Chin ( left ) deduced this from the experiences of artistes in Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu, who face strict restrictions on stage performances, imposed on religious grounds by the local authorities of those states.

“AMCA has endured strict regulations in every state in Malaysia...” he said.

As such, the group will hold a signature drive against the hudud and send a protest memorandum to Tourism and Culture Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

When it was pointed out that hudud is a penal system for crimes under syariah law, Chin, insisted that the Islamic law covers aspects of “culture, education and politics”.

This despite the Kelantan hudud enactment only touching on specific offences, including illicit sex, but not stage performances or entertainment.  

Fear of new laws

Chin argued that the introduction of hudud will open the floodgates for further Islamisation, which will impede on artistic freedom.

He said a performance in Telemong, Pahang, was cancelled because of the authorities' discontent with the outfits of the performers.

"Therefore, if our country is further Islamised, will the restrictions become intensified? It certainly will," said Chin.

Echoing him was James Mah, a lawyer who was also present at the press conference, who argued that there could be indirect impacts on stage performances.

"Hudud, if implemented, will be beyond the people's control, and there will be many new laws leading to stricter enforcement," Mah said.

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