KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil today cancelled Good Vibes Festival in Sepang after the frontman of a British pop rock band The 1975 kissed a male bandmade onstage and criticised the country’s anti-LGBT laws.
“There will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages and violates Malaysian laws,” Fahmi said in a tweet after meeting with the organisers of the music festival, a three-day event that was set to run until tomorrow.
“I understand this decision will have implications for the audience who have bought tickets. Accordingly, I have urged the organiser to identify a compensation mechanism for ticket buyers,” said Fahmi.
The 1975 has been banned from performing in Malaysia, said the Central Committee for the Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes.
In videos posted on social media last night, Matty Healy was seen kissing bassist Ross MacDonald after criticising the government’s stance against homosexuality in a profanity-laden speech to the festival audience.
He said the band had considered pulling out of the show but did not want to disappoint their fans in Malaysia.
“I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it,” Healy said.
Healy later cut short the set, telling the crowd: “All right, we gotta go. We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, I’ll see you later.”
The band could not immediately be reached for comment. Healy was earlier criticised for kissing a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement, festival organiser Future Sound Asia said the band’s set was stopped due to “non-compliance with local performance guidelines”.
Fahmi said Malaysia is committed to supporting the development of creative industries and freedom of expression.
“However, never touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that are against the traditions and values of the local culture,” he said.
— Reuters
