SHAH ALAM - Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s decision to cancel the remaining schedule for the Good Vibes Festival (GVF2023) for today and tomorrow does not bode well for him and the Unity Government.
MCA vice president, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, claimed that Fahmi should not be seen to be trigger happy or shooting at the wrong target.
"The punishment of cancelling the festival and asking the organisers to refund all tickets sold is unjust to the organiser, who will incur heavy losses in monetary terms and in their reputation.
"Fahmi seems to be taking it out on the organisers to appease or is playing to the side of conservatives," Ti Lian said in a statement today.
On top of that, he further expressed his dissatisfaction with Fahmi, who is the Lembah Pantai MP and his party, PKR, by saying that they were making this decision to appeal to their political supporters.
In fact, he elaborated that Fahmi's decision may win him some political brownie points for the state elections; however, it will damage Malaysia's international standing and the local entertainment industry, which is already under tremendous pressure and challenges.
"Is this drastic action towards the organisers correct as they have no control over the spontaneous acts of any of their performers on the stage? Or is this is another "political bluff" to show that the Unity Government is not what they are perceived to be in view of the upcoming state elections," he added.
Ti added that this decision made by Fahmi, has now put the music festival organiser, Future Sound Asia, as well as the vendors, sponsors, and partners in a difficult situation, when they were victims of a situation and should not be penalised for a wrong committed by another beyond their control or diligence.
"This will also set a wrong message and a bad precedent for future organisers. Their future costs, risks, and insurance may also be higher due to this unforeseen risk beyond their control.
"All organisers as of now need to comply with the tight regulation by the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (PUSPAL); under the Communication Ministry.
"Penalising the organiser or demanding PUSPAL to be more stringent will only bring about more red tape, rules, and costs that will discourage entertainers and organisers, thus damaging our entertainment industry," he added.
Ti stressed that while the incident of Healy acting indecently on stage was uncalled for, the minister's way of handling the matter will have huge implications to the entertainment industry.
"The Malay proverb ‘jangan marahkan nyamuk, bakar kelambu’ in this case is apt.
"Do not ‘burn’ the organisers or the industry due to the act of one performer, Actions should be targeted at Healy and his band The 1975.”
Last night, the frontman of British band The 1975, Matt Healy, delivered a speech, that went viral, while performing the last set at the Good Vibes Festival.
The band's performance was cut short due to non-compliance with local performance guidelines after Healy made a profanity-laden speech directed at the government.