31-10-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian concert organizers will now be required to have a “kill switch” to abruptly end performances that violate government guidelines, according to Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching.
This directive comes in response to an incident involving British band The 1975 in July, which led to the sudden cancellation of the Good Vibes Music Festival in Sepang, Selangor.
As a consequence, the band has been banned from performing in Malaysia.
“The government has requested concert organizers to introduce a kill switch during any performance that will cut off electricity if there is any unwanted incident. This is a new guideline following the incident (involving The 1975). We hope that with stricter guidelines, foreign artists can adhere to the local culture,” Ms. Teo stated during a session at Parliament’s Lower House on Monday.
Her remarks were in response to a question from opposition Perikatan Nasional MP Zulkifli Ismail, who inquired about the government’s actions against the band’s vocalist, Matty Healy, for his criticism of Malaysia’s policies towards the LGBTQ community during their performance.
Ms. Teo further explained that according to the guidelines set by the central committee for the application for filming and performance by foreign artists (Puspal), the police are responsible for conducting background screenings of foreign performers.
She also mentioned that Puspal committee members, which include agencies such as the Immigration Department and local council authorities, would attend concerts or music festivals to monitor them.
The Foreign Ministry and Immigration Department are responsible for blacklisting foreign artists, she added.
During the July 21 incident, The 1975’s Matty Healy openly criticized Malaysia’s policies, kissed male band member and bassist Ross MacDonald, and smoked and drank alcohol on stage.
The concert organizer decided to cut off the performance, and the following day, the Ministry of Communications and Digital shut down the remainder of the music festival.
The organizer had stated that The 1975 had signed agreements agreeing to comply with the government’s guidelines.
Two days later, lawyer Mathew Thomas Philip announced that he and a group of lawyers were working on a class action lawsuit on behalf of the festival’s vendors and local artists, seeking compensation for the losses incurred as a result of the cancellation.
