About Smegma (2006)

In every society, the privileged groups’ control over and exploitation of the disadvantaged groups is the key source to social problems. These problems endlessly shape the material and spiritual landscapes of the outsiders. The outsiders’ education and environment generates beliefs and values that are diametrically opposed to the empowered status quo and if unchecked will fester and spread like virulent disease to destroy everything set by the powers that be...

... SMEGMA interrogates the ‘moral, cultural, religious, political, economical legitimacy world’ from many different perspectives of the underdogs and their masters. When the comfort-zone is shattered ugliness rears its head like cheesy SMEGMA.

Source: Smegma by Elangovan (2006).

Although Mines can be staged, Elangovan is fuming that it was given a last-minute go-ahead and a RA rating even though it contains no nudity or violence. Without the benefit of publicity, only a handful of people turned up when the play opened on Friday. The poor showing added to the financial problems of the theatre group, Agni Kootthu, whose appeal for public funding was rejected by the NAC.

Source: Call him R(A) Elangovan by Gillian Wong. In The Straits Times (22 Jun 2002).

“I want to sensitise people by exposing them to issues that may be sensitive to others,” he said. “I feel the truth is more important than winning literary awards for boot-licking.”

Source: Call him R(A) Elangovan by Gillian Wong. In The Straits Times (22 Jun 2002).

The play was initially granted a licence from MDA, which was subsequently withdrawn. It was originally given an ‘R(A)’ rating and Agni Kootthu was obliged to announce in its publicity materials that the play contained ‘objectionable language’ and an ‘adult theme’.

Source: Censorship and Liberalisation in Singapore by Terence Chong. In Space and Polity, Vol. 14, No. 3, 235-250 (Dec 2010).

The Media Development Authority (MDA) is withdrawing the licence for the play Smegma written by Elangovan. Comprising 10 playlets, Smegma undermines the values underpinning Singapore’s multi-racial, multi-religious society. The play portrays Muslims in a negative light. The Arts Consultative Panel (ACP) was consulted about the play. The majority found most of the content of the play insensitive and inappropriate for staging. The members were concerned that the play could create unhappiness and disaffection amongst Muslims.

Source: MDA press release (4 Aug 2006), http://bit.ly/2kxA25i

Less than 30 hours before it was to open on Saturday evening, the Media Development Authority (MDA) pulled the plug on controversial playwright P Elangovan’s latest work...

... It is the first time the MDA has disallowed the staging of a play since it was formed in 2003.

Source: Early curtains for provocative play by Loh Chee Kong and Ashraf Safdar. In TODAY (5 Aug 2006), http://bit.ly/2kxA25i

If MDA had cancelled the licence much earlier, we would not have proceeded with our production. We would have saved our finances but now we have lost so much.

Source: Agni Kootthu’s press release by S Thenmoli. (4 Aug 2006), http://bit.ly/2kZXgCZ

Yet, perhaps more tellingly, MDA left it to the eleventh hour before informing the theatre group that it would not be granted a licence even though the script was submitted a month before it was scheduled to be staged on 5 August 2006. This particular strategy of informing the theatre group that its licence would be withheld or of objectionable parts of a script just hours before opening night is not, according to practitioners, an uncommon practice by the authorities, leaving directors and scriptwriters little or no opportunity to come up with alternative solutions other than to remove the offending sections completely.

Source: Censorship and Liberalisation in Singapore by Terence Chong. In Space and Polity, Vol. 14, No. 3, 235-250 (Dec 2010).

Singapore has in recent years relaxed censorship regulations for films and plays in an effort to loosen up and market itself as a media and arts center. But controls remain tight.

Source: Singapore pulls play’s license for alleged negative portrayal of Muslims. In Associated Press (5 Aug 2006)., http://bit.ly/2lHzQlM

As for MDA’s withdrawal of the licence for theatre group Agni Kootthu’s staging of the play Smegma last Friday for being offensive to Muslims, Wong says: “If I had my way, I’d prefer there be no censorship. I’d much rather that the dialogue takes place between the production and its audience.

“If a play like Smegma is seen to be insulting, let it happen with the audience rather than have the censors come in. However, this is the country we live in.”

Source: Everything is politics after all by June Cheong. In The Straits Times (8 Aug 2006).

Dew M. Chaiyanara, 23, an actress in Smegma and a Singapore permanent resident of Thai-Muslim origin, told The Straits Times yesterday she was disappointed that the licence had been withdrawn.

“But I understand that the MDA is just doing its job.”

Source: Licence for controversial play withdrawn by June Cheong. In The Straits Times (5 Aug 2006).

“I’m not cynical about it,” he says. “It is my job as an artist to push the boundaries of what people think is taboo, and to create awareness of the society we live in.”

Source: Playwright back with satirical play by Tara Tan. In The Straits Times (1 Aug 2008).