The Malaysian Insight

ABOUT a dozen activists from Islamist group Jaringan Muslimin Pulau Pinang staged a protest outside the Penang Performing Arts Centre (penangpac) at Straits Quay tonight where the play Love in Georgetown City was on tonight.

The play, by local director and playwright Fa Abdul, was originally titled Sex in Georgetown City, which attracted criticism on social media. 

The group’s chairman Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin slammed the production, its playwright and the theatre, accusing them having a hidden agenda. 

“Their ‘art’ is aimed at disrespecting the position of Islam as the state religion. 

“In the past, penangpac also wanted to screen a gay movie that they considered to be art,” he said outside the theatre. 

Hafiz accused the production and theatre of promoting free sex and the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) lifestyle through their art. 

He also accused Fa of being an advocate for unnatural sex, which was prevalent in the West. 

He said she had originally titled her play Sex in Georgetown City specifically to upset Muslims. 

Hafiz said they had also lodged a police report over the play. 

Also present was Jaringan Melayu Malaysia president Azwanddin Hamzah. 

Special branch policemen in plainclothes were also seen monitoring the protest. 

Meanwhile, penangpac publicity manager Alexander Ooi said the group’s claims were untrue and that Fa had already given an explaination on the play. 

Earlier this week, Fa had said she never meant to offend religious or cultural sensitivities through her play, comprising 10 eight-minute skits aimed at educating the public on social issues through entertainment.

She had said the skits addressed social issues like inter-racial relationships, racism, paedophilia and infidelity. 

“They are not deviant nor exploitative, instead they reflect our challenges and cultural idiosyncrasies,” she had said.

Today’s show was sold out as well as tomorrow’s showings. The play runs until Sunday. – February 14, 2019.