A scheduled DJ performance at a concert for the Malacca Water Music Festival 2026, which was supposed to take place tomorrow night, has been cancelled following complaints raised by Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh.
Akmal, who is also the state executive council member for rural development, agriculture, and food security, said the concert will proceed, but without any DJs.
Asserting that he directed his complaints to Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh and Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman, the state executive councillor for tourism, heritage, arts, and culture, Akmal claimed that having DJs at a concert would lead to inappropriate acts such as “head-banging”.
“This morning, the tourism exco told me that the DJ performance has been cancelled, and there will only be a traditional show - if we want to make our culture known, this is the way,” said the Merlimau assemblyperson in a Facebook post today.
Akmal said he was aware that certain quarters had brought up the event in Klebang, Malacca, when he previously voiced his condemnation of the Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026, which was launched in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, last night and set to run until tomorrow.
However, he affirmed that the Malacca Water Music Festival 2026 is being done “traditionally”, with participants encouraged to don traditional attire and partake in cultural games alongside other competitions such as jet skiing, arm wrestling, and wall climbing.
Not mincing his words in criticising the Kuala Lumpur event, Akmal said social media posts of the event last night depicted attendees “raving as if they were in a disco”, attributing the situation to a “nightclub-like” environment.
Praying up a storm
Repeating his appeal for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to cancel the event in the city centre, Akmal referenced Putrajaya’s previous decision not to hold any open house for Hari Raya Aidilfitri as part of cost-cutting measures to handle the impact of the West Asia conflict.
“We accepted (the decision), no problem, but with this sort of water festival, what kind of savings (are being implemented)?” he questioned.
“If (the government) does not cancel the event, I appeal for all Muslims and every rakyat who does not agree with this event to pray for Bukit Bintang to be hit by very heavy rains as well as thunder and lightning.
“Since they want to do a water festival, let’s ask Allah to make it rain, so they (participants) can sit in the storm,” he added.
Tourism Malaysia earlier said the Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026, co-organised by the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry as part of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, is an opportunity to welcome visitors from across the region and beyond to be part of a “shared, cross-cultural experience” in Malaysia.
Besides the main event in Kuala Lumpur, seven states, including Malacca, have also expressed their readiness to organise related activities, tailored to local contexts and cultural elements.
The other states involved in the festival are Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Kedah, Pahang, and Terengganu, as well as the federal territory of Labuan.
Separately, NST reported that the Kuantan City Council has rejected organisers’ applications to host the Pahang edition at Teluk Cempedak and Cherating beaches this weekend.
The report quoted city councillor Nik Mohd Ridzuan Kamarudin as saying the applications were rejected based on various factors, including “sensitivities of the local community”.
Politicising every programme
Addressing a press conference after officiating the event in Kuala Lumpur last night, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing urged all parties to stop politicising the event.
He reportedly cautioned that the nation’s economic development could be at stake if every programme is turned into a political issue.
“Those who feel they can attend are welcome. If you feel your religion does not permit it, then do not come,” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying.
The minister also cited the Songkran Festival organised in Kedah on April 18 to point out the supposed inconsistent criticism against the Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026.
“I want to ask, why were there no objections when this happened in Kedah? Isn’t the Kedah state government led by PAS?”
“Why were there no calls for the menteri besar to resign? Why must this issue be politicised?” he asked, according to Free Malaysia Today.
Subject to syariah guidelines
Yesterday, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) voiced its objection to the water festival and requested its organiser to be aware of sensitivities in Malaysian society.
It added that all parties should ensure entertainment programmes do not have elements that could affect religious piety and society’s morals, noting that while Islam does not ban entertainment, such events should be subject to syariah guidelines.
Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah today also called for Muslims to maintain their distance from programmes that may raise doubts in terms of decorum, social boundaries, and compliance with syariah principles.
Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar previously called for Tiong’s resignation, claiming the event clearly violates local cultural sensitivities and social harmony. - Mkini
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