KUALA LUMPUR – The Communication and Digital Ministry will be instructing show and concert organisers to have a “kill switch” following The 1975 fiasco during the Good Vibes Festival in July.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH) – in response to Zulkifli Ismail (Jasin-PN) in Dewan Rakyat today – said the “kill switch” is for organisers to cut electricity and stop performances mid-show if the need arises.
This, she said, is to ensure that artistes, especially international performers, would adhere to the guidelines prepared by Puspal (Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes).
She added that the additional guideline is to ensure that the performers would abide by the country’s culture and beliefs.
Zulkifli had asked if the ministry is ready to give Jakim more responsibilities in relation to Puspal, as a measure to prevent unwanted incidents and to block any international artistes from performing in the country.
In Teo’s written reply, she said Puspal’s committee consists of 16 ministries, agencies and departments including Jakim, and that the committee is under the Communication and Digital Ministry’s purview.
“Jakim’s role in Puspal is to provide insights and advice in relation to sensitive religious matters in the country. Moreover, background checks on foreign artistes are carried out according to the Puspal members, including Jakim.
“Background checks are needed in the application to hold performances in public spaces. If there are any findings on sensitive religious, racial and national security issues that could harm public harmony, it will be thoroughly discussed during Puspal’s meeting before a decision is made.”
The Communications and Digital Ministry, in July, pulled the plug on the Good Vibes Festival that was scheduled to go on for three days, following The 1975 frontman Matty Healy’s erratic behaviour on stage during their performance on the first day.
Healy’s performance on the first day of the three-day event on July 21 triggered an uproar after he openly criticised the government over laws affecting the LGBTQ community.
Visibly drunk during his lambasting of the Malaysian government, Healy then shared a kiss with a male bandmate, bass player Ross MacDonald, on stage.
During the set, Healy was also seen spitting at the audience and damaging equipment, including the drone used to record the event. – October 30, 2023