Artistes group calls for stricter concert guidelines after Pinkfish deaths

 

Pop music lovers should be cautious if offered suspicious substances when attending music concerts, says the Malaysian Artistes’ Association. (Envanto Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The Malaysian Artistes’ Association (Karyawan) has called for stronger guidelines on pop music concerts following the death of four people who had attended a new year countdown event at the Pinkfish festival at Sunway Lagoon on Dec 31.

Karyawan president Freddie Fernandez said a similar tragedy in 2014 had led to a policy that dance music concerts could be held only in enclosed venues.

“Yet, such a tragedy has happened again. I am unsure about the changes in regulations that now allow these concerts in open venues, which are clearly more difficult to manage,” he said in a statement.

Six people died after the Future Music Festival in 2014. The deaths were linked to the use of synthetic drugs. Police said yesterday that the four who died at the Pinkfish concert were believed to have taken ecstasy.

Fernandez urged concertgoers to be cautious if offered suspicious substances, as these could be synthetic drugs or “new formulas” being tested without their knowledge.

He said various forms of synthetic drugs were made available in juices, pills, paper strips, or vapes, making detection challenging, even with thorough checking by the police.

Freddie Fernandez.

“This becomes even more difficult, particularly in large open areas crowded with attendees, which are inevitably harder to control,” he said.

He called for closer collaboration between event organisers and agencies, such as the National Anti-Drugs Agency, on carrying out awareness campaigns at concert venues, and suggested the use of a slogan like “Music Without Drugs” on promotional materials for concerts.

Police have recorded statements from 15 people, including family members and friends of the four who died after attending the open-air Pinkfish event, which was attended by about 14,000 people.

Selangor police have suspended permits for concerts in the state, and the state government has said it would review concert guidelines to prevent drug abuse-related deaths from recurring. - FMT