KOTA BARU: The Great British Circus will arrive in Kelantan for its inaugural show minus its female performers.
This was the condition set by the Kelantan government, the state's Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah said today.
The circus, which has toured Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam for the past 10 years, will feature an all-male lineup of performers for the show in Kelantan between Oct 26 and Nov 17.
Hilmi said the Kota Baru Municipal Council has given the circus' organiser the licence to perform in the city.
"Other circus shows feature female performers who expose parts of their bodies and do not cover their 'aurat,' which is against Islamic law.
"The organiser's (Great British Circus) compliance with our rules demonstrates that event organisers understand the state government's requirements for shows and that both local and foreign organisers can comply."
Hilmi said the Kelantan government has never rejected entertainment programmes as long as they complied with Islamic laws and took into account local sensitivities.
He added the state government was preparing a new law to guide the hosting of entertainment events in the state known as the Entertainment and Control of Entertainment Venues Enactment.
All event organisers who plan to host events in Kelantan should consult the respective local council to ensure they comply with permit guidelines, he said.