The Malaysian Insight

RENAMED play Love in Georgetown City was cancelled after opening night in George Town, following a protest by a local Islamist group.

Jaringan Muslimin Pulau Pinang showed up at the Penang Performing Arts Centre (penangpac) in Straits Quay last night while the play by Fa Abdul was showing in conjunction with Valentine’s Day.

Several of its leaders made impassioned speeches condemning the play originally titled Sex in Georgetown City, Fa and penangpac. They also slammed various government authorities such as the religious department and the police for not preventing the play from showing.

A penangpac spokesman said police spoke to them when the play ended and told them to cancel the rest of the scheduled showings.

“We will have to cancel the show.

“They (the police) watched it and they are okay with the content. But they wished that we can help them cool down the situation for a win-win,” he told The Malaysian Insight in a text message.

The spokesman said Fa would issue a statement later.

The play was also sold out today and was to have shown until Sunday.

The protest began with about a dozen people and more turned up later, including Jaringan Melayu Malaysia president Azwanddin Hamzah.

The group leaders shouted accusations that Islam was being disrespected and that free sex and the LGBT (lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgendered) lifestyle were being promoted through art.

There was heavy police presence at penangpac during the protest, which was aired live on Facebook and went on for about an hour. Several police officers also went into penangpac to watch the play, which was sold out last night.

Fa’s production had ran into trouble earlier this week after the play’s original title upset some Muslims, who made their outrage known on social media.

She changed the title, apologising for the oversight, and then lodged a police report after learning that a protest would be held to condemn her play.

Fa said her play was not a dirty film with obscenities like her accusers claimed.

The play is a comedy, made up of 10 short skits that aims to educate the public on social issues such as inter-racial relationships, racism, paedophilia, and infidelity.

She also said she never meant to offend religious or cultural sensitivities.

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

Meanwhile, northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Che Zamani Che Awang confirmed penangpac was advised against further screenings of the play.

He also confirmed that the play contained no obscene elements and was a comedy.

If there was any, police could stop the play, he said.

“The producer of the play had made a mistake promoting it in a way that  gave the impression that the production contained obscenities. Due to the confusion, there was unhappiness that vice was being promoted.

“The theatre has been advised not to go on with the play due to the mistake and the confusion it caused,” he said in a media statement this morning.

Che Zamani, who was at penangpac last night to monitor the protest, said he had asked the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), the authority in charge of the licensing of entertainment premises, to meet with penangpac and the police to discuss the next course of action.

He said it was up to the licensing authority to decide to stop the play.

“The police are continuing to closely monitor the matter.” – February 15, 2019.