Sepang gay kiss raises questions over vetting of foreign artists by agency under Fahmi's ministry

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil's move to ban a music festival in Sepang following a British band's onstage gay kissing to protest Malaysia's laws against homosexuality has raised questions over who the authorities are targeting, while also calling into question the failure of an agency under his ministry that is tasked with vetting foreign entertainers.

MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker said banning all of the three-day Good Vibes Festival 2023 was an overreaction and has only victimised those who had nothing to do with singer Matty Healy and his band's offensive behaviour last night.

"If this is another 'political bluff' to show that the unity government isn't what they're perceived to be in view of the coming state elections, then the organisers are victims of the situation and should not be penalised for a wrong committed by another beyond their control or diligence," Ti said, believed to be referring to a frequent denial by government leaders over accusations that it is tolerant of LGBT lifestyles.

Fahmi today announced a ban on the remaining two days of the festival, an annual event that has been held since 2013, following the onstage acts of Matty Healy of the rock band The 1975.

But Ti said banning the whole event was akin to the Malay proverb, "Marahkan nyamuk, kelambu dibakar", which literally means "to burn the whole net over one mosquito".

"Actions should be targeted at 'the mosquito', that is, Matty Healy or The 1975," he added.

Last night, Healy burst out in a rant laden with profanities to protest Malaysia's laws against homosexuality. He and another male band member then locked lips onstage, among other antics, including smoking and drinking alcohol as well as vandalising a drone flown near the stage.

"F***ing ridiculous to tell people what they can do with their that and that," he said, pointing to his mouth and groin. "I'll take your money. You can ban me, but I've done this before, and it doesn't feel good, and I'm f***ed off."

Healy, a staunch supporter of the LGBT movement, is known for such behaviours in the past, including when he kissed a male fan on stage during a show in Dubai, UAE, where homosexual acts are taboo.

Foreign performers in Malaysia are subjected to strict vetting and other regulations by the Central Committee for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes, or Puspal, a body under Fahmi's ministry.

Ti said the agency should have known Healy's history and avoided the risk of him repeating what he did in Dubai.

"The authorities shouldn't have approved his performance here and taken the risk of a repeated act," he said, adding that instead, the government was penalising the organiser or the ticket purchasers by cancelling the entire event despite approval.

"This incident of gay kissing on stage is uncalled for and unacceptable to us, but the minister's act is a bad precedent with huge implications for our entertainment industry."

Meanwhile, the festival organisers Future Sound Asia said the development came with huge financial costs for the company.

In a statement, it said Healy had assured them they would comply with guidelines.

"His actions took us by surprise, and we halted the show as promptly as feasible following the incident. Healy's unprofessional behaviour and defiance of laws and regulations are disturbing, and he chose to use his performance as a platform to express his personal views rather than deliver the quality show that his fans were anticipating."

On social media, three food vendors who rented space at the festival said they suffered losses following the government's decision to pull the plug on the show.

"I hope this reaches you, Fahmi Fadzil. I understand the implications of last night's happenings and the effects that it has on the people of Malaysia from a social, political and economic stance," said one of them, who identified himself as Nazri, in a video posted on Twitter.

He said vendors had each spent a minimum of RM15,000 on food stocks alone for the event.

"This is not a small amount for entrepreneurs like us. How do we move forward from this?" he asked, adding that those "who are actually at fault" should be punished instead.