PENANG Mufti, Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Sukki Othman, has called for decisive enforcement following a public outcry over a provocative dance performance during a Songkran festival celebration at Batu Ferringhi beach—held just 50 metres from a mosque.
The event, which took place last Sunday, featured several women performing a half-nude dance, prompting widespread condemnation after footage of the performance spread across social media.
Condemning the act, Dr Mohd Sukki said it not only breached Islamic values but also tainted the image of Batu Ferringhi, one of Malaysia’s most frequented tourist destinations.
“This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable in a country that upholds Islamic principles. Authorities must act decisively under the law,” he said in a statement.
He added that tourism operators should strengthen regulations and oversight to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
“Islam places a high value on dignity and modesty, and exposing the body or behaving inappropriately in public contradicts these teachings. Such actions must not be normalised,” he said.
He urged the public not to downplay acts of immorality, stressing that it was a collective responsibility to uphold moral integrity within society.
Chairman of the Ar-Rahman Mosque in Batu Ferringhi, Ismail Din, also voiced his disapproval, stating that the mosque community had not been informed of the event beforehand and only learned about it once the video surfaced online.
“Any public celebrations must be carefully evaluated, especially when held near places of worship. The organisers clearly failed to consider the cultural and religious sensitivities of the community,” he said in a separate statement.
Police have since confirmed that the event was held without the necessary permits. Timur Laut district police chief, ACP Abdul Rozak Muhammad, told Bernama that no public entertainment licence had been requested or issued for the celebration.
“There was no application for a temporary entertainment permit submitted to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), and neither the licensing division nor the police received any request for screening or approval,” he said when contacted on Wednesday.
The controversial Songkran event, reportedly organised by a nightclub operating in the tourist hub, ran from 4pm into the night on both Saturday and Sunday, with tickets priced between RM60 and RM120.
Sinar Harian reported that the organisers had hosted the event at a beachside venue without notifying the authorities or securing official permissions. The publication is still awaiting a response from MBPP on the matter.
The viral video, showing scantily-clad women dancing atop a platform at the beachfront premises, has sparked debate over the regulation of public events and the protection of cultural and religious values in high-profile tourism zones. – April 16, 2025
