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Wayang puppetry is also common to Indonesia, where it has been suppressed in the past for fear of political undertones in the storylines. In light of the events in this part of Malaysia, it may yet face more widespread suppression in the future for more overtly religious reasons. "Old and new traditions clash in Malaysian Islamic city," by Clarence Fernandez for Reuters:
KOTA BARU, Malaysia (Reuters) - Osman Bakar is a specialist in Malaysia's traditional art of shadow puppetry, but fears his craft is flickering out under curbs imposed by strict Islamist rulers in the country's northeastern state of Kelantan.
"I have lost a source of income," said Osman, who has been a drummer for 20 years at performances of wayang kulit, as the art of puppetry, based on myths from India's Hindu epics, is known.
Wayang kulit is slowly fading out in the province following years of restrictions on this ancient form of puppetry, which dates back centuries before Islam spread to the region and whose origins are derived from Hinduism.
Osman, a former soldier, now supports his eight children teaching silat, a traditional Malay martial art. Many of his puppeteer friends have given up the art or moved away.
Two years ago, the Islamist party Parti Islam se Malaysia, which controls the mostly rural Kelantan province with a population of 1.5 million people, declared the capital Kota Baru an Islamic city.
The move was the latest in a series of changes PAS has ushered in since taking power there in 1990, as it seeks to discourage behavior it considers against the tenets of Islam.
It has shut down bars serving alcohol, which is forbidden under Islamic law, instituted separate checkout queues for men and women in supermarkets, and clamped down on traditional performing arts that it considers breaches Islamic law.
Although Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, half its population of about 26 million is non-Muslim and the national government, run by a coalition led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), is secular.
CULTURE CLASH
Kelantan is steeped in traditional Malaysian culture which dates back to centuries before Islam reached the area over 800 years ago. When Islam did reach the relatively isolated region, south of the Thai border, it took hold in a more mystical form.
But PAS upholds a strict form of Islam that sometimes clashes with elements of Malaysian culture.
Authorities in Kota Baru stirred an outcry last month by announcing plans to fine non-Muslim women if they wore revealing clothes. They later backed down, saying the measures would apply to Muslims only.
"Now we see a lot more women in headscarves. There weren't so many earlier," said Azmi Noh, a cloth trader in Kota Baru's Siti Khadijah market, where his shop is surrounded by traders seated on platforms selling pyramids of vegetables and rows of chickens.
"They have been closing cinemas in the city for more than a year, eliminating illegal structures, and building more places for people to pray," he added.
The Siti Khadijah market is the only one in Malaysia with a mosque, batik trader Azmi said, adding that officials from the mosque occasionally targeted unmarried Muslim couples walking through the market with advice to mend their ways.
[...]
DYING ART FORM
One party official said PAS wanted to hold meetings to popularize the idea of an Islamic city as well as concerts meant to appeal to young people, who are expected to form a large proportion of voters at the next poll.
"We are concerned about the young voters. That's why there is an emphasis on activities that will appeal to them," said politician Kamarudin Jaffar.
PAS plans to organize a concert by British singer Yusuf Islam, more commonly known as Cat Stevens, a high-profile convert to Islam, he added.
"As long as the concerts are within Islamic norms, it's fine," he said, referring to rules that men and women be seated separately at such events.
[...]
Many long-time residents of Kota Baru remember the days before the changes ordered by their Islamist rulers rid many landmarks of their evocative associations.
"Moonlight Beach," a strip of sand lashed by grey-capped monsoon waves, where small boys fly kites shaped like birds or butterflies, used to be called the "Beach of Passionate Love."
Strung along major roads are signs with the Arabic characters for the name of God and the Prophet Muhammad, or verses from the Koran, that aim to put motorists in a prayerful mood.
[...]
At his wooden-built home amid the emerald rice fields of the village of Kampung Jal, Osman Bakar, 54, said the local PAS government had begun to allow shadow play performances purged of offending elements, such as ritual offerings to the gods.
But he doubted that would be enough to revive the art form.
"Children nowadays don't know what these arts are," he said.
That's the idea: Disconnect them from their own culture, and they will accept the imposition of Islamic customs and rules more readily, and perhaps even convert and join in the hostility toward jahiliyya, or artifacts of pre-Islamic "ignorance."
Posted by Marisol at January 10, 2007 7:25 AM
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No surprise here, Islam destroys art, libraries, churches, cultures, farms, forests, music, religious statues, people, and a lot of cars.
On the other hand, Islam continues to introduce rape, assault, bombing, maiming, torture, slavery, and mindless followers.
Ban Muslim Immigration NOW...
Posted by: exsgtbrown![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 10, 2007 7:46 AM
We have several countries with different percentages of islamic population for a case study. The first group of countries have 1 - 2% infestation. They are -
1. Britain
2. U.S.
I do believe that muslim ghettos exist in both countries, shia-sunni clashes have begun, and, at least in Britain, there are certain areas that are no-go for infidels, or are tagged as "sensitive". Clashes break out between natives and muslims on a regular basis. The government of Britain has for years supported the terrorism in Kashmir and condemned "human right violations" by the Indian Army there. Britain has also harboured several wanted terrorists.
The second group of countries have a 5-10% muslim infestation. They are -
1. France
2. Australia
My request to posters from these countries how things are over there.
The third is India, with a 13% infestation.
All the basic things that are the hallmark of an islamic population mentioned in the first group exist. In addition to these, the sole state in India that is muslim dominated says that it wants "independence from subjugation". Kashmir comprises of three regions, Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Of the three, Jammu is Hindu dominated whereas Ladakh is chiefly Buddhist. The violence is restricted to Kashmir valley, though the terrorists are not averse to placing a bomb in any part of the country that they can. In cities throughout India, muslim ghettos are mostly no-go zones for infidels, though some people can and do go there. It is the numbers game in play here. Kashmir can be safely be described as India's biggest muslim ghetto.
The fourth is Israel, with 16% infestation.
I do not know if it is true, but a poster on the Detroit thread at JW posted that in Israel, there are quotas for muslims, and that they construct without seeking permission from the local authorities. In my country, as the muslim infestation increases, there are talks right now for quotas. And in the ghettos, sharia rules. Most of the muslim/muslim cases never are brought to court. So I know what that maybe in the near future, muslims will have jobs even if there is some infidel candidate seeking the same. Politicians cannot make hard decisions about the ummah, and slowly the problem worsens.
The fifth is Malaysia, with a 50% infestation.
The article posted above is an indicater of things to come for Israel and India, and, subsequently, Group 2 and Group 1.
The sixth is Indonesia, with close to 90% of infestation.
The other population groups percentages in this country (as per the CIA factbook) are -
Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, Others 1%.
The seventh group comprises of countries in which the infestation is above 90% and close to 100% and includes countries like pakistan and somalia.
I think that the waters are not so uncharted after all. We can safely predict our future.
at January 10, 2007 9:57 AM
Remove Australia from Group 2 please. Error.
Posted by: arjun.sevak at January 10, 2007 9:59 AM
As I have said before Malaysia is on the slippery slope to becoming a fundamental Islamic state. Even though more than 50% of its citizens are non Muslimo they are penalised as ethnic Malays get preference for University places and government jobs. All companies too MUST have an ehnic Malay (Bumi) on the board and also as a shareholder. Malaysia is also the training ground for S Asian terrorists , most of the Indoneian bombers were taught their skills in Malaysia. Malaysia is also the safe haven for Thai Muslims who hide there then cross to Thailand to bomb and kill Buddhists. Jamaih Islamiah which is legal in Malaysia and Indonesia is a terrorist organisation which works towards an Islamic Caliphate comprising Thailand/Malaysia/Singapore/Indonesia and the Phillippines. Its time US and European companies such as Motorola/Nike/IBM etc reviewed their investment in such a hostile country. Its not quite Pakistan yet but its getting there.
Posted by: Realist at January 10, 2007 10:32 AM
"Creeping Sharia"-how apt. It reminds me of "The Blob"-relentlessly swallowing everything in its path. Besides, sharia is by creeps, for creeps and invented by the supreme creep.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at January 10, 2007 11:19 AM
Islam has no culture.
Posted by: Celsius at January 10, 2007 1:55 PM
Islam has no culture.
Posted by: Celsius
Islam has a culture of destroying culture
Posted by: shiva at January 10, 2007 3:52 PM
Realist wrote:
"Even though more than 50% of its citizens are non Muslimo they are penalised as ethnic Malays get preference for University places and government jobs. "
In fact, religious and racial apartheid have been widely practised by the government. This is a showcase of non-Muslims dhimmitude imposed by 'moderate' Muslims. Protests against the widespread apartheid are greeted with threats and violence. In their recent annual supreme party meeting, they showed their swords to warn against any parties questioning their special racial rights and privileges.
Posted by: FreedomSeeker33 at January 10, 2007 8:56 PM
When faced with the complexity and variety of cultural manifestations in South and Southeast asia, Islam is exactly like a steam roller moving about in a beautiful garden.
Where there were flowers and hedges of different colors and shapes it leaves a flat, bleak field where the islamic potatoes (veils, minarets, men with beards, etc.) can grow.
And then once that country has sold its glorious multicolor cultural heritage carefully built by the forefathers, there will be just the same grey and boring islamic potato field forever.
Posted by: rocky at January 11, 2007 8:30 AM
Easiest to answer question ever asked. No.
Posted by: Catawhumpus at January 15, 2007 8:43 PM
So where is the UN human rights panel? Busy preparing charges against Ethiopia? this is how much of Asia and Oceania has lost it's rich cultural heritage at the hands of these nutjobs.
Posted by: Catawhumpus at January 15, 2007 8:44 PM
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