Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has ordered an immediate cancellation of the remaining two days of the Good Vibes Festival (GVF) 2023 held at the Sepang International Circuit.
This follows Fahmi's earlier meeting with the festival organiser regarding a "stunt" by The 1975’s frontman Matt Healy onstage last night - performing while holding what is believed to be a bottle of alcohol, before kissing the male guitarist.
"I would like to stress that the government's stand is clear.
"There will be no compromise on any parties who challenge, mock, and defy Malaysia's laws," said Fahmi on Twitter.
"Therefore, I have ordered an immediate cancellation of the festival that was supposed to continue today and tomorrow," he said.
Fahmi, who is also PKR information chief, said he had urged the concert organisers to identify a mechanism to compensate ticket holders.
He said while the government is committed to supporting the development of the creative industries and freedom of expression, he warned artistes to not touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that go against local cultures and values.
Following the cancellation of the music festival by the government, its organisers apologised to its ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners, and assured them that it will provide updates on refunds as soon as possible.
“We are aware of the time, energy, and efforts you have put into making this festival a success and we value your steadfast support.
“We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time,” it said in a statement.
Blacklisted
Meanwhile, the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) said The 1975 has been blacklisted from performing in Malaysia.
In a statement today, Puspal said it had also filed a police report against the UK band and the event organiser for “negligence and failure to comply with the set conditions”.
“When the application was made, the organisers gave their assurance that they will be fully responsible for the artistes’ performance.
“The actions shown by the band is an insult, a disrespect to the laws of the country and a violation of Malaysians’ moral values.”
In a related development, Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today that the force will be asking the event organisers to provide more information on the incident later this afternoon.
He added that the KLIA police will be overseeing the investigation as the festival took place at the Sepang International Circuit. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.