Show won’t go on: The concert venue at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan stays empty after the concert was cancelled.
SUBANG JAYA: The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) said the “Thirst 2015: We Are All Stardust” organiser was wrong to sell tickets without first obtaining an entertainment permit from the council.
Speaking to the press after the council’s monthly full board meeting yesterday, MPSJ Licensing Department director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid clarified that the organisers did not obtain nor paid for a permit from MPSJ.
MPSJ president Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said the application was rejected by MPSJ on April 4 but the organiser appealed on April 22.
“We issued a letter stating that a permit will be issued on condition that the organiser cooperate with either the police or National Anti-Drugs Agency to ensure that there will be no drugs at the concert.
“The Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali’s office has requested us to write a report on this matter,” he said.
Nor Hisham urged the state to come up with a policy and standard operating procedure for having concerts and similar events so that such incidents would not recur.
“The public is blaming MPSJ when it was the police who objected to the concert.”
MPSJ councillors differed in opinion over this matter.
Councillor Dr Mahendran Markandoo said such incidents were bad for the tourism industry.
“We would also be seen as not business-friendly. The organisers have spent a lot of money to organise this event.
“It should be the organisers and police’s responsibility to ensure that the concert is free from drugs and other banned substances.
“Furthermore, Muslims are not allowed to attend such events,” he said.
Another MPSJ councillor Pooi Weng Keong disagreed that such concerts or events be banned just because of some people’s actions.
“We are all adults and should be responsible for our own actions.
Councillor Loka Ng said: “I hope people who protested against the concert could view the society as a whole instead of making decisions based on the actions of a few people.
“Now, because of this, MPSJ’s name is soiled.”
Councilllor Rosharizan Mohd Rozlan did not think it would damage the council’s image as it was the decision of the police.
“We have to respect the police’s view,” he said.
