New type of methamphetamine caused the 6 deaths at music festival, says Zahid Hamidi
BY MAZWIN NIK ANIS AND RAHIMY RAHIM
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KAJANG: The six people who died of drug overdose at the Future Music Festival Asia 2014 (FMFA) were found to have consumed a new type of methamphetamine.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said police investigations revealed the drug was not available in Malaysia, and was believed to have been smuggled from neighbouring countries.
"From initial investigations, the drugs consumed by the concert-goers had the worst effect. We are focusing our investigations at how these drugs were brought in," he said at a programme hosted by the National Anti-Drugs Agency on Tuesday night.
The six who died from drug overdose were Kamal Zekry Kamal Basha, 22, Victor Wong E Hern, 26, Sabreena Kamaruddin, 21, M. Suresh, 28, Syazana Sohaimie, 23, and Nor Faizza Mohd Wazir, 27.
Ahmad Zahid said that police would work closely with local authorities and concert organisers to ensure their programmes were free of drugs and alcohol.
"Monitoring concerts is not under the jurisdiction of the police, but we will work closely with organisers to avoid such an incident from recurring," he added.
He said one of the conditions stipulated for organising concerts were to ensure no illegal substances were available throughout the event.
"Organisers must be more diligent. They must ensure concertgoers do not bring drugs or alcohol to the show," he said.
Over in KAJANG: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Government was prepared to review the permit for the live music event, Life-in-Color, scheduled for April 19, following the six deaths at the FMFA.
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this was to avoid any untoward incidents of drugs and narcotics abuse.
"Due to the death of a few individuals during the FMFA, it is proper for the Government to review the approved permits," he told reporters at the basketball friendly tournament with the Women's Basketball National team organised by the Ministry, at Sg Chua, here, Tuesday.
Khairy said that he would bring up the matter with the Cabinet for discussion before making any decision.
"I was informed that the Life-in-Color music event has the same genre with FMFA, and can be considered as high-risk," he said.
Stern action should be taken against the organisers of the Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) 2014 if it is proven they failed to prevent drug and alcohol abuse during the event, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the police were now working with the Malaysian Stadium Corporation and the local authorities plus conducting a thorough investigation in the case of drug abuse at the Bukit Jalil Stadium which resulted in six deaths.
“The organiser should be responsible and they should observe the conditions given. The audience cannot bring in drugs and alcohol, and that was why the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar called me on the third night to get permission for the cancellation and I ordered it to be cancelled.
“We leave it to the police to take action, together with the local council and the stadium authority which rented out the premise to the organisers,” he told reporters after attending a dinner by the National Anti-Drug Agency here yesterday.
He was commenting on the drug abuse case which caused six deaths, including three women, aged 19 to 18, during the FMFA 2014 concert early Saturday morning.
Ahmad Zahid said the police were still trying to determine the origin of the drugs, believed to be new to Malaysia, and the culprits who distributed it. — Bernama
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