What are the historical and contemporary challenges faced by traditional arts like wayang kulit in Kelantan?

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Traditional arts like Kelantanese wayang kulit have faced a long history of bans and ongoing compliance limits tied to religious rules, alongside economic pressure and a broader cultural divide.

Wayang kulit in Kelantan was previously targeted by the PAS state administration because of its mysticism, and a blanket ban lasting two decades was only lifted last year after a call from UN special rapporteur on cultural rights Karima Bennoune and public backing. Even after the ban was removed, performances are still required to be Shariah-compliant, a condition cultural activists say will eventually kill the arts. Beyond these legal and religious pressures, the tradition also struggles economically and is described as demanding an artist’s whole life, while broader cultural tensions exist between religious zealots and modernists who view traditional arts as inferior to science and technology.
A two-decade ban rooted in concerns over mysticism
Kelantan’s shadow puppet theatre, wayang kulit, was banned by the Islamist PAS state administration because of mysticism, alongside other performance arts such as mak yong and main puteri. The ban lasted for two decades and was lifted only last year, after a direct call by UN special rapporteur on cultural rights Karima Bennoune and support from many in the public.
Shariah-compliance requirements continue after the ban is lifted
Although the blanket ban ended last year, the government still required performances to be Shariah-compliant. Cultural activists argue that this ongoing requirement will eventually kill the arts, even when the performances are allowed to resume.
Economic difficulty and the life-long nature of the craft
Traditional arts are described as not paying well in Malaysia and as demanding an artist’s entire life. The narrative contrasts the full commitment expected of a tok dalang with the rarity of tok dalang working other jobs, underscoring how sustainability is difficult when income is limited.
Cultural pressure from both religious and modernist viewpoints
The situation is framed as a dual threat: religious zealots seeking to erase non-conforming traditions, and modernists who consider traditional arts inferior to science and technology. Within this framing, the survival of wayang kulit is also tied to belief in its mystical and ritual elements, including incantations and invocations performed before shows.

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What are the historical and contemporary challenges faced by traditional arts like wayang kulit in Kelantan?

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