The 1975 band left Malaysia before police reports lodged, says Ayob Khan

KUALA LUMPUR - The cops have refuted accusations of incompetence in handling the British music group, The 1975 for their indecent acts on stage at the Good Vibes Festival.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the band left Malaysia for the UK six hours after their performance and the police report was received the next day.

He said the indecent act was carried out at 11.30pm on July 21 and a police report was lodged the next day at 2pm.

"The police did not have the time to take any action because The 1975 group had returned to the UK early July 22 morning, he said adding that 18 police reports were lodged with eight from Selangor.

"A total of 13 recordings of the conversation had been taken, six from the complainants, one from the organisers and six from the Central Agency for Filming and Performance Applications for Foreign Artists (Puspal)," he said at a press conference, today.

He said this after a flag handing-over ceremony to mark the World Police and Fire Games (Winnipeg) 2023 championship that will take place in Canada from July 28 to August 6.

Also present were Chef De Mission PDRM Contingent to Canada, Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri and Director of Management and Chairman of the PDRM Sports Council, Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim.

Commenting further, Ayob said, PDRM advised event organisers and Puspal to be more cautious when bringing in artists to prevent similar incidents in the future as there are several more performances by foreign artists expected to take place in Malaysia.

The band were banned from playing in Malaysia after the lead singer, Matty Healy, criticised the country’s anti-LGBT laws on stage in Kuala Lumpur on July 21.

Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.

Healy in a viral video said: “I don’t see the f****** point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with. Unfortunately you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m f****** furious.

“And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. Because you’re young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool.”

Healy then kissed bass player Ross MacDonald as they played the song I Like America & America Likes Me. About 30 minutes later the band walked off stage, with Healy telling the audience: “All right, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later.”

Interpol?

Asked if the police will request the International Police (Interpol) to help in The 1975 case, Ayob said that the matter will not involve the international investigative body..

"This case is being investigated under Sections 504 and 509 as well as Section 14 of the Minor Offenses Act, so we will only deal with the UK authorities if prosecution is carried out against The 1975.

Siti Kassim's car

Commenting on a bomb placed in lawyer Siti Kassim's car, Ayob said the police collected 12 statements from victims, mechanics, workshop owners, security officers and the public.

In fact, he said, detailing and reviewing on the closed circuit (CCTV) recordings at the scene of the incident has been carried out by the police.