George Town (Malaysia), Aug 8 (IANS) The Chinese community here has rejected demands from conservative leaders to have operas and cultural shows for a festival, instead they want performances by scantily clad girls, a report said Sunday.
The demand for scantily-clad ko tai (stage show) singers during the month-long Hungry Ghost Festival – due to begin Tuesday – has not been affected by calls for it to be replaced by opera and cultural shows.
A stage show agent here said the Phor Thor (Hungry Ghost Festival) committees were still requesting for ‘hot’ singers.
‘I already have some 30 bookings for the shows,’ he said, adding that those who complained that the showgirls were dressed too sexily were hyprocrites.
‘When we show them pictures of the singers, the comments we get are ‘not hot enough’ or ‘not sexy’ – they want singers who can dance suggestively,’ he told The Star.
The agent, who has been in the business for more than 20 years and represents some 50 singers, said his company was just catering to the organisers’ demand.
On the singers’ attire, the agent said: ‘We tell the singers not to wear outfits that are too revealing but ultimately, it is up to them.’
On Monday, Phor Thor committees in Penang state were advised to opt for Chinese operas instead of sexy showgirls.
Penang Teong Guan Association adviser Lim Yam Koi spoke against scantily dressed singers.
Several NGOs, cultural bodies and politicians have since echoed the call.
