S’wak to safeguard music festivals with stronger enforcement, no ban planned says minister

Following directives to prioritise ground safety over event cancellations, future music festivals in Sarawak will see heightened tactical security measures to deter illicit activities.

By Amanda L

KUCHING, July 1: Sarawak will not ban music festivals in response to isolated drug-related incidents, opting instead for tighter coordinated enforcement on the ground to safeguard the State’s growing youth tourism sector.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the government prefers practical regulation over outright cancellation of events, stressing that isolated incidents should not define an entire industry.

“We cannot just because there is negativity in an event discard it. We have to see it from a positive overview.

“Just because of a drug overdose, terus tidak boleh the whole concert. We are not going to look at things that way. Such incidents should be viewed in the same way as road accidents, which do not lead to cars being banned from roads, “ he said at the Borderland Music Festival press conference held here today.

Abdul Karim pointed out that in other jurisdictions, events are often halted immediately following negative incidents, citing a case in West Malaysia where a concert was barred after a fatal overdose.

He said such outcomes should not automatically determine the future of the entertainment sector.

Instead, he said the ministry has been working with the police, Immigration Department, Customs and local councils to strengthen enforcement at event venues.

Measures include deploying plainclothes officers inside venues to blend in with crowds, and positioning narcotics detection dogs at entry points as a deterrent.

Borderland Music Festival founder Tiger Ming said their festival is prepared to comply with requirements set by enforcement agencies.

“We are here to stay for the long term. Our goal is to make this successful, and we are fully prepared to meet any requirements set by the authorities,” he said.

He added that their music festival will increase its internal plainclothes team and utilise social media to communicate how official security checks will be conducted. — DayakDaily