The 1975 given seven days to pay RM12.3m: Lawyer

 

British pop rock band The 1975 was given a seven-day ultimatum to cough up RM12.3 million for an alleged breach of contract linked to their controversial Malaysian performance last month.

If the band fails to abide by the legal letter issued yesterday by Future Sound Asia - the organiser of Good Vibes Asia 2023, which saw the concert cancelled following the incident - they would be hauled before the civil court in their homeland, the United Kingdom.

Today, the organiser’s counsel, David Dinesh Mathew, confirmed that this was the demand contained in the letter of claim (the UK equivalent of Malaysia’s letter of demand, which is a precursor to a civil court action).

“The claim by Future Sound Asia is basically that The 1975 band had breached its obligation under the contract to perform.

“Importantly, the representative of (the band’s) lead singer Matt Healy gave a written assurance before the show. That the band would comply with the assurance, which was that they ‘shall adhere to all local guidelines and regulations’.

“This was the written assurance given by organiser Future Sound Asia, and the claim is for breach of this assurance,” he said.

Civil claim threat

Mathew said if the band disregarded the seven-day ultimatum, which took effect from the date of the letter yesterday, the organiser would file a civil claim in the UK court for breach of contract.

He added that the band’s agency has been served a copy of the letter of claim and they passed it to their lawyers.

Malaysiakini has reached out to the band for a response over the matter.

During the festival in Sepang on July 21, The 1975 frontman Healy angrily criticised Malaysia’s laws against the LGBT community.

The musician also said he made a mistake by coming to a country that is “telling us whom we can have sex with” because he didn’t check when the band made the concert booking in Malaysia.

Healy kissed his male bandmate, Ross MacDonald, while on stage.

He was also seen drinking from a bottle believed to contain an alcoholic beverage during the incident. At the same time, netizens alleged that Healy spat onstage and damaged a camera drone operated by the festival crew.

Festival cancellation

Following a meeting with the festival’s organisers, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil ordered an immediate cancellation of the remaining two days of the Good Vibes Festival.

Police have since launched an investigation into the incident after receiving three police reports regarding the “extremely rude statements and behaviour” by band members.

The investigation is being conducted under Sections 504 and 509 of the Penal Code and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955.

Section 504 deals with the offence of intentional insult with intent to provoke the breach of the peace, which is punishable with a maximum two-year jail term, fine, or both upon conviction.

Section 509 is on the offence of a word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of a person, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail, a fine, or both if found guilty.

Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act criminalises insulting behaviour that is intended or is likely to provoke a breach of peace and is punishable with a fine of up to RM100. - Mkini