Peninsular Malaysia has traditional water-related festivals, but the street-based version is not among them, according to a cultural activist and art professor.
Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin of Universiti Sains Malaysia explained that water-centred celebrations in West Malaysia are traditionally connected to natural settings such as seas, rivers and lakes.
In contrast, the water music festival scheduled for Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur from May 1 to 4 does not draw from any established tradition, much like most street or urban-space festivals, he told FMT.
Response to PAS criticism
Ghouse was commenting on a PAS leader’s remark that described the planned festival as a “foreign street party” unsuitable for Malaysian culture.
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi responded promptly, saying the festival would go ahead with adjustments to better reflect Malaysian cultural values.
Traditional practices more ritualistic
Ghouse noted that traditional water festivals tend to be ritualistic rather than purely recreational.
He cited the “puja pantai” ritual once observed by Malays, particularly along the East Coast, to honour ancestral spirits.
The practice has since been discontinued among Malays as it was seen to conflict with Islamic teachings, he said. The Mah Meri Orang Asli community, however, continues to observe their water-related festival each year.
“There is no tradition of secular, water-based celebrations in Peninsular Malaysia, much less street-based water festivals,” Ghouse added.
Venue and public impact matter
He stressed that water-based festivities are not inherently problematic if held in appropriate locations without disrupting daily life.
“There is no harm in such festivities if done at the appropriate venue without causing inconvenience to the public,” he said.
Risks of tourist-driven events
Cultural tourism expert Greg Richards cautioned that festivals designed primarily to draw tourists can weaken local culture when communities are left out of the planning.
“If these festivals are not grounded in local culture, they risk commodifying rather than supporting culture,” Richards of Tilburg University in the Netherlands told FMT.
While such events can bring economic gains, he said this benefit alone is not enough justification and must be balanced carefully.
Festivals staged during peak tourist seasons often deliver limited long-term value, he added.
Richards emphasised that festivals become more sustainable when built from the ground up with active local community involvement to secure lasting support.
