Makyung in Contemporary Malaysia: Strategies for Preservation and Proliferation

This article researches the efforts and the strategies to keep Makyung, a traditional dance theater form of Malaysia (practiced in the region of Southeast Asia) alive and relevant in society today. Makyung was proclaimed as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of the World by UNESCO in 2005. However, the art form struggles to find a foothold in contemporary Malaysia against the backdrop of growing Islamic fundamentalism, modernity and urbanization. This article documents the efforts and explorations from the educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and grass-roots participation that are essential in bringing this to new audiences with stories that speak to contemporary society. The article posits that collective efforts from all concerned would yield the best results.