Hannah Yeoh supports cancellation of Good Vibes Festival

SHAH ALAM: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh expressed support for the decision to cancel the Good Vibes Festival 2023 in Sepang due to a controversial stunt by British rock band The 1975.

Yeoh said the band indulged in improper behaviour and breached the conditions for organising the concert.

"I contacted Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and expressed support for his action, because there are terms and conditions for holding any programme that organisers need to abide by.

"I hope youth groups in Malaysia know we support freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but there are limits and laws to follow in the country," she said at the closing ceremony of the Artalive Challenge Cup Amputee Football 2023 championship, here, today.

Yesterday, Fahmi described the band's action as insolent and ordered for the immediate cancellation of the festival, which was to end today.

The Communications and Digital Ministry, through the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes, yesterday decided to blacklist the British band from performing in Malaysia.

The band's performance on Friday was halted after its frontman Matty Healy held a bottle of liquor on stage and launched into an expletive-riddled tirade against Malaysia's laws relating to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals and kissed the band's bassist Ross MacDonald.

Earlier, Yeoh closed the four-team championship, which was organised by the Malaysian Amputee Football Association (Mafa), and watched the final between Malaysia and Indonesia, which the latter won 2-0.

She also announced an allocation of RM30,000 to Mafa to meet the cost of organising the championship, which began on Friday.

"I want amputees to know that there is life after amputation, and I hope the Youth and Sports Ministry can continue supporting efforts for them to remain healthy and have a platform to interact with their friends," she added. - BERNAMA

Related Articles