Since the Covid-19 pandemic, much of society has kept to a high level of hygienic standards, with greetings and close-contact largely kept at a distance between strangers. Gestures of respect are usually kept to a minimum, with most simply going for a handshake or the traditional “salam” gesture for Muslims.
However, this might not be the case for everyone. Yesterday (12th May 2025), the vocalist of local punk band Armpunk Syndicate was assaulted by a group of men in Johor for allegedly not kissing their hands in greeting. CCTV footage, which depicts the assault, was later uploaded to Instagram by the band.
The one-minute video shows a group of seven men waiting outside a public toilet to ambush the punk vocalist, who goes by the name of Zed. The video’s caption calls out the perpetrators as “cowards” and labels the assault as a murder attempt, as a metal trash can was used to beat the victim. “What kind of culture is cultivated in our artistic spaces? Is this what we’re promoting in our scene? Skinhead Johor?”, the band stated in their post.
Many have come forward to express their support and stand in solidarity with the band to promote non-violence in the music scene. Late Night Frequency vocalist Moja Husni commented, “We are with you, Zed. Stay strong, emotionally and physically. Our prayers are for you. May justice be served,” emphasising his support towards the band.
The band also reportedly faced assault during their performance in Johor, as urine was thrown at them.
Watch the full video here:
Source: Instagram
Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
