Korean idol boy group B1A4 made their way to Malaysia in January 2015 for a special fanmeeting organised by TGM Events. However, the event received massive backlash from the online community after a video titled “Malaysian girls molested by K-Pop idols on stage last night” went viral.
On 2nd April, it was announced that Putrajaya has officially blacklisted TGM Events for “breaching set regulations.”
In the video, the 5-member boy group was accused of “molesting” 3 tudung-clad girls onstage for their special fan meeting on 10th Jan. It was the first time that B1A4 was said to have been behaving “badly” in Malaysia, despite having performed in Malaysia for 2011’s MOA Live in Malaysia, 2012’s “one FM THE ONE Concert”, and 2013’s “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur.”
Soon after the video went viral, the organiser released an official statement to explain the incident. B1A4’s management firm WM Entertainment also denied the “molest” claims, stating that they were mindful of local Muslim sensitivities and that consent of the 3 girls had been obtained.
There were no formal charges against B1A4 and WM Entertainment, but Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek released a statement to announce that Putrajaya has officially blacklisted the company. Shabery said TGM Events had breached “rules” and guidelines, but did not specify the violations.
In his written reply to PAS Rantau MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, he added:
During the K-Pop concert (fan meeting B1A4) on January 10, 2015 at KL Live, the event organisers were blacklisted for violating specific rules.
The minister did not elaborate further on the consequences of the blacklist.
As previously reported, Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) asked the girls in the video to come forward to assist them in their investigation under Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences ( Federal Territories ) Act 1977 (Act 599 Indecent Acts in Public Places).
He explained that under Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act (FT) 1977, a criminal offense for “any person who contrary to Islamic Law, acts or behaves in an indecent manner in any public place” will be punished with fines of not more than RM1,000 or 6 months jail or both.
However, JAWI later admitted that it cannot pursue the 3 Malay girls despite previously saying it would seek their arrests for public indecency. The girls did not turn themselves in as directed even when the religious authority gave them a one-week deadline to do so.
(Source: Malay Mail Online)
