The Malaysian state of Terengganu is set to ban women from performing for male audiences as part of gender segregation guidelines that will be soon be imposed on event organisers, The Star reported.

The guidelines were supposed to come into force in January, but had been delayed, the chairman of Terengganu's Tourism, Culture, and Information Technology committee, Ariffin Deraman, said.

He added that the guidelines will kick in once legal technicalities are resolved, Malaysiakini further reported.

What do the guidelines entail?

The guidelines had first been announced by Terengganu's state government in October 2018.

Terengganu is governed by the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) political party.

According to both The Star and Malaysiakini, the guidelines are as follows:

1. Stage shows can only involve male dancers and singers
2. Performances by female dancers and singers can only be done for a female audience in a closed venue,
3. Excessive mingling between male and female performers on stage is not allowed,
4. Male and female performers are only allowed to mix on stage in front of an audience of children,
5. The music cannot be accompanied by excessive instruments that will influence the audience to follow the beat,
6. The music does not contain excessive or distracting lyrics,
7. Music performances are only allowed after Isya' prayers, but not beyond midnight,
8. Daytime shows must not go beyond prayer times,
9. No shows are allowed on Thursday night until the following day after Friday prayers,
10. Audiences must be mindful of their behaviour, and ensure that their clothing is neat, and covers their aurat (modesty) during the performance, and
11. Organisers must ensure that there is no mixing between male and female audience members who are not kin.

Shows by non-Muslims for a non-Muslim audience to be assessed on a case-by-case basis

At the time of the guidelines' announcement in 2018, Ariffin further stated that shows by non-Muslims for a non-Muslim audience would be assessed on a case-by-case basis, the Malaysian Insight further reported.

The announcement subsequently drew criticism from Ti Lian Ker, a publicity spokesperson for the Malaysian Chinese Association, The Star reported.

He said: "There is no need for gender segregation and the stifling of rights, freedoms and liberties."

The guidelines were also criticised by Majidah Hashim, the communications manager of Sisters in Islam, a Malaysian civil society organisation.

Majidah said: "The government’s readiness to resort to guidelines that impose their archaic worldview endangers the progress of all Malaysian women and their right to participate fully and equally in this country’s socioeconomic development and public life."

Top photo by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak via Flickr