Designer makes topless models wear ritual masks of Malaysia's Mah Meri tribe, faces backlash
The Mah Meri community has since filed a police report, and the incident has ignited a storm of condemnation on social media.
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian fashion designer Anuar Zainal is facing significant backlash after he was accused of misappropriating the cultural heritage of the Mah Meri Indigenous community at the CIMB Artober Fashion Week 2023 on 8 October.
The controversy arose when Anuar featured models wearing Mah Meri ritual masks in a fashion show and posted images on his Instagram, including some topless male models.
The Mah Meri community has since filed a police report, and the incident has ignited a storm of condemnation on social media.
The masks' importance to the community
The Mah Meri tribal mask stands as a primeval relic now housed in museums, serving as an educational conduit for the younger generation to connect with their cultural roots. Crafted as symbolic representations of their forebears, these masks play a pivotal role in ancestral worship ceremonies.
Village chairperson Azman Sap, a representative of the Mah Meri community, expressed his anger at the fashion designer's actions.
In an interview with MalaysiaKini, he said, "I filed a report after seeing Anuar's post on Instagram and found some male models wearing Mah Meri masks. We are furious with his actions. In addition, the models were also found in a semi-nude state. Each spirit mask has a specific function and cannot be touched or played with."
Azman emphasised that the masks hold great significance as a cultural symbol of their community.
In response to the incident, Orang Asli groups and advocates have initiated an online petition with three specific demands to address cultural appropriation at the CIMB Artober festival, where the fashion show took place.
The petition first demands a public apology from Anuar, CIMB, and all event partners and collaborators involved in the production and staging of the controversial fashion show. It also calls for a public apology to the Mah Meri community for the appropriation of spirit masks.
The statement was signed by 18 representatives and groups from the Orang Asli community, including Azman Sap, Sidin, Shaq, the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), Gerimis Art Project, Catama Borneo, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Right Committee, and The Tuyang Initiative.
Additionally, the petition urges Anuar to promptly remove all images and videos related to the show from his social media platforms and demands a public explanation to address the discussions and presumptions that led to the appropriation and steps that will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Netizens also weigh in on the matter
The appropriation of Mah Meri culture during the fashion show has been condemned by many on social media.
Users on Instagram expressed their outrage and called for respect for the Mah Meri tribe's customs and beliefs.
One user, Herabahriza, said, "You must understand and respect this object. Clearly, they express that they are hurt by your act of impersonating the Muyang mask, so please apologize. Don't be arrogant. It's a simple matter; we also don't want people to disrespect our religion and customs, so just respect the beliefs and customs of the Mah Meri tribe. It's not just a mask, it's their sanctity and belief. There's no need to inject new breath into the faith of a particular community."
Another user, melissaramlan, commented, "This is tone deaf and a complete disrespect towards the Mah Meri tribe! Cultural appropriation!"
While Malaysia is a Muslim nation, the majority of Orang Asli identify as animists, or those who believe in nature and spirits in objects.
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