Recently, Selangor Police revealed that the four deceased individuals, along with three other concertgoers, had taken ecstasy before attending the Pinkfish Festival on New Year’s Eve. The organisers were summoned by the authorities to assist with their investigations; however, due to this tragedy, their business, along with those of other concert organisers, may be affected.
According to several reports, the Selangor Police have temporarily suspended all concert permit approvals in the state until further notice. Chief Police Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, told reporters that the suspension aims to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
“We need to ensure the situation is under control and avoid further tragedies. For now, the police are suspending the approval of any permits for concerts like [Pinkfish Festival] until organisers can demonstrate control and ensure such elements do not occur,” he said. It was also reported that Mohd Najwan Halimi, Selangor State Executive Council (EXCO), would discuss the issue with Datuk Ng Suee Lim, Chairman of the Local Government and Tourism Committee.
Following the news of the suspension, many, particularly those from the event organising committee, came forward to share their thoughts. Special Advisor to the Association of International Festival Executives (ALIFE), Rizal Kamal, stated that the recent tragic incident should not be used as a reason to punish the entire entertainment sector. He suggested that a fairer and more balanced approach should be taken to address the issue without affecting the sustainability of the sector.
Livescape Group CEO Iqbal Ameer spoke to Free Malaysia Today, stating that suspending over 100 events would greatly affect venue operators, artists, small businesses, and technical specialists, as they would be left without a key source of income. “Organisers have also already paid deposits for artists and venues. But with all the revenue from concerts lost, who will be held accountable? Who will bear the cost of all this?” he questioned the decision on the suspension.
At the time of writing, neither the Selangor Police nor the relevant ministers have provided an update on their plans or discussions regarding the imposition of much stricter guidelines for organising concerts in the state. Let’s hope that this matter will be resolved soon and that there will be a solution to the problem.
Sources: TheStar (1)(2), BusinessToday, FMT, AstroAwani (1)(2), MalayMail, SJEcho, YahooNews
