SHAH ALAM: Police are withholding concert permits for events like Pinkfish Countdown 2024, which involve music, alcohol, and large crowds, until organisers can confirm no drugs are allowed.
This comes after an incident at the New Year's Eve concert at Sunway Lagoon, where it is believed that seven individuals had taken the party drug 'ecstasy'.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said future permits would only be approved if organisers could ensure strict control over drug distribution and implement robust safety measures.
"For now, the police are withholding approvals for such concerts until we are assured that organisers can address the issues I mentioned, particularly drug distribution," he said during a press conference today.
"For future approvals, each application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if organisers can control attendee safety and drug distribution within their venues," he said during a press conference today.
"For concerts that have been approved, the permit would still be reviewed and the organisers must present their procedures to avoid drug distributions in the events."
Hussein also raised concerns over the organisers' inability to prevent drug distribution at the event.
"In this incident, the organisers failed to control these activities. We cannot rule out the possibility that they were involved in supplying ecstasy pills.
"Going forward, concert organisers must ensure that no drugs will enter their events.
"If they fail to address this issue, we cannot allow concerts that could end with fatalities or other negative consequences for society and the nation," he said.
Meanwhile, Hussein added that attendees could also have acted independently to sell drugs.
"We do not deny the possibility of individuals wandering around the venue selling these pills.
As of yesterday, police have recorded statements from six witnesses. They plan to question others, including the victims' friends.
While they were investigating the case as sudden death, police said they are also investigating the possibility that the victims could have been poisoned.