It explores some pretty serious issues, but Alfian Sa’at hopes that his latest play, Kakak Kau Punya Laki (KKPL), or Your Sister’s Husband, will make you laugh.

“I think this is a very funny play. I actually wanted to write it for comedy,” said Alfian.

Staged by Teater Ekamatra, KKPL is directed by Mohd Fared Jainal and stars Najib Soiman, Mastura Ahmad, Noorlinah Mohamed, Farah Ong and Maimunah Bagharib. The play revolves around a character named Maslindah Bte Selamat and her four sisters.

While her sisters are successful and modern, old-fashioned Maslindah, or Mas for short, is the odd one out. When she announces that she has finally fallen in love, it’s time for her sisters to confront their prejudices.

And if you were wondering, yes, the main character draws references from Mas Selamat.

“I’ve always wanted to write a play about Mas Selamat, but … I don’t know enough about him,” said Alfian, who added that he also wanted to raise questions on issues such as detention without trial.

In fact, KKPL echoes at least one Mas Selamat moment. During his infamous escape in 2008, he dressed in a tudung. For the entire play, male actor Najib is cross dressing as Maslindah herself.

And co-actor Maimunah, who is best known as Munah from the comedy duo MunahHirzi, gives him a thumbs up.

“There’s just something about this man playing a woman,” she said. “He doesn’t act like it’s drag. You see him as a real woman, a real makcik. He’s very, very good.”

MunahHirzi even did a promotional video of Maslindah.

“We brought the character out to the streets. We didn’t think it was Najib. It was just like this makcik we were shooting randomly,” she said.

“He was just so sporting. He went to people, sell epok-epok and then people will interact with him. People give him money and he will go ‘Ah! Thanks, thanks.’ But (we) give them back lah,” she added with a laugh.

The 25-year-old actress plays the youngest sister, an air stewardess.

“I think the thing that attracted me was that it was Ekamatra — a (group) I’ve been a fan of — and it was with people whom I really look up to.”

So how did she prepare for her role? “Well, she’s getting married to a pilot, so I’ve been going around dating pilots,” she joked.

What: Kakak Kau Punya Laki

Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio

When: Dec 18 to 22

Tickets: S$35 from Sistic. In Malay with English subtitles.