KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaya (UM) has submitted an official report to the Higher Education Ministry about a theatre performance accused of crossing the line recently.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said in its report, UM admitted there were certain aspects of the performance which were sensitive and required improvement.
UM also assured that it was already taking steps to rectify the situation, he told the media after a walkabout at the Sabah Zone II Jom Masuk Universiti 2026 programme at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) here on Sunday (April 19).
He added that while he understood creativity comes in various forms, it should adhere to public decorum and values.
Noting that the public voiced concerns and criticisms over the matter, Zambry said it was important to understand that every university or learning institution has its own guidelines for campus theatre productions.
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"However, sometimes when creative programmes are carried out by students, they are viewed from different perspectives," he said.
As such, he added, corrective measures must be taken so as not to offend the sensitivities of a multiracial and multireligious society.
Commenting further on the UM case, Zambry urged arts and creative faculties across all universities to be more cautious and sensitive towards such elements in their works.
Asked if closing the faculty was an option following the controversy, he said such extreme measures were not advisable because the move was more reactive than proactive, which could cause another major issue.
He felt it was better to make corrections based on existing guidelines.
Earlier this week, a scene from one of the theatre performances under the Carnival Theatre (Karviter) competition sparked public outrage and backlash online over its reportedly indecent content.
According to netizens, a brief scene was accused of having suggestive "soft porn" elements, among other things.
UM has since apologised and said the skit violated the competition’s rules and regulations because it did not follow the script that was submitted earlier.
