Scantily-clad female singers and dancers at open-air stage shows for a month-long "Hungry Ghost Festival" have drawn the ire of some women leaders, a report said today.

But organisers told The Star that the shows were meant for the "younger generation of ghosts" who also enjoy watching sexy performances.

Hundreds of such shows are being held in fields and open areas nationwide by Chinese religious groups as part of offerings to mark the seventh month of the Lunar calendar, or the "ghost month", symbolising the opening of the gates of hell, the home of wandering spirits.

In the past, the shows centred mainly on Chinese opera but now include sexy performers gyrating to western songs. Ethnic Chinese make-up about a quarter of Malaysia's 23 million population.

Disrespecting deities

But in Penang, women complained that such sexily dressed performers were showing disrespect to the deities and the ghosts.

"They wear as little clothing as possible and some purposely bend over to show more cleavage," said political researcher Jadryn Loo.

"Even if the show is by the roadside, it is still meant for the deities and the performers should not expose themselves, especially in a public place."

Tang Cheng Liang from the MCA, a pillar of the ruling coalition, said sexy attire was "disgraceful and does not fit the occasion."

She called for tougher enforcement to ensure that the performers were properly dressed as the audience included women and children.

Not naked

But a spokesman for one of the show committees defended the performances, saying these were meant not only for the deities and the public but also for "wandering ghosts."

"The older ghosts may enjoy watching Chinese opera but times have changed and the younger generation of ghosts like watching this type of performances," he said.

"It is the same everywhere, not only in our area. The most important thing is that the performers are clothed and not naked." - AFP