By Sheeda Fathil
SUBANG JAYA, Jan 9 — The public is mostly agreeable to the Selangor government’s suggestion to tighten the standard operating procedure (SOP) for concert organisers, including subjecting people believed to be under the influence of illegal substances to urine screens.
Muhamad Azhad Abdul Wahid. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR
Muhammad Azhad Abdul Wahid, 27, said the SOP should not be restricted to raves, but should include all music genres and cover local and international artists.
“When it comes to something involving the public, I think it is fair to implement urine screens.
“The screening will take quite a while but I suggest that visitors perform the test earlier and show their results to authorities to enter the concert,” said the animator.
Filbert Mccann Riot. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR
Student Filbert Mccann Riot, 24, said the tighter SOP will ensure the four deaths at a recent New Year Eve rave do not recur.
“We definitely need urine screens. Ticket prices may spike, but I believe if one is a true fan of a concert artist, cost wouldn’t be a problem.
“But I think screening would be more suitable at raves and on suspicious individuals,” he said.
Nurul Aliana Samsol. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR
Nurul Aliana Samsol, 23, suggested that authorities tighten SOP even further, such as at airports.
“I think there should be pat-downs and bag checks at places like airports, or maybe station more cops and sniffer dogs there,” she said.
Meanwhile, student Darshan Suresh, 20, disagreed with the move, saying having more enforcers perform pat-downs is enough.
Darshan Suresh. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR
“Urine screens will just complicate things and delay concert start times. I think there’s no need for this; it is enough to do more thorough pat-downs,” he said.
Yesterday, state executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim recommended that concert organisers tighten their SOP, including by subjecting suspicious individuals to urine screens.
He said industry players need not worry as concert entry guidelines remain, just the monitoring must be stricter to prevent untoward incidents.
This came after four people aged 20 to 40 died after a New Year’s Eve rave in Subang Jaya.
On January 3, Selangor police suspended all concert permits in the state until the investigation into the deaths is completed.
State executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim speaks at the launch of a workshop to standardise local authorities’ best practices at Amverton Cove Golf and Island Resort, Kuala Langat, on January 6, 2025. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/MEDIA SELANGOR
