24-7-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Hamzah Zainudin, the opposition leader in Malaysia, raised concerns about the government’s “double standards” in how it dealt with two separate incidents involving British pop rock band The 1975 and caretaker Kedah Chief Minister Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. Speaking at a Perikatan Nasional (PN) political rally in Selangor on Sunday (Jul 23), Hamzah pointed out the contrasting approaches taken by the authorities in these cases.
Referring to the arrest of caretaker Kedah Chief Minister Sanusi in the early hours of July 18, Hamzah questioned the necessity of his arrest despite his cooperation with the police, deeming it a “small mistake.” Sanusi was later charged with two counts of sedition, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In contrast, The 1975’s lead vocalist, Matty Healy, made headlines when he kissed a male bandmate on stage during a music festival in Kuala Lumpur and criticized Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws. Following the incident, the Good Vibes Festival, where the band was scheduled to perform, was canceled. Homosexuality is considered a crime in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim-majority country.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated on Twitter that there would be no compromise against anyone challenging or violating Malaysian laws, following a meeting with the festival organizers.
Despite The 1975’s actions, the band left the country on Saturday morning, leaving limited options for legal action, as stated by Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan, who reported that three police reports were filed regarding the incident.
During his speech, Hamzah criticized the government for allowing The 1975 to perform in Malaysia, citing the band’s support for the LGBTQ community. He expressed disapproval, claiming that such groups would harm the future of Malaysians and that he, as the former home minister, would have never permitted their entry into the country.
Hamzah called on voters to demonstrate their stance against the current unity government through the upcoming state polls, expressing a desire to remove them from power. Six states, including Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan, will be holding state polls concurrently on Aug 12, alongside the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.
The incident involving The 1975 sparked discussions on Malaysian social media, particularly among members of the LGBT community, who expressed concerns about the impact of Healy’s actions on their community ahead of the state polls, fearing further stigma and discrimination.
