SHAH ALAM, Sept 21 — The Communications Ministry has reminded concertgoers in Malaysia to dress appropriately, avoid being disruptive, and respect the country’s cultural and religious values.
Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (strategic communications and creative industry) Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin said the rules are not meant to spoil the experience but to ensure concerts are safe and aligned with local norms.
“Concerts must not become scenes of disorder or obscenity,” he told The Star.
He added that prohibited items such as weapons, alcohol, drugs, and political or religious signs will not be allowed.
The ministry’s Unit for Application for Foreign Filming and Performance by Foreign Artiste (Puspal) recently updated its guidelines for foreign performances, which now indirectly include audiences.
Attendees are expected to avoid offensive slogans, instigating religious sentiments, or throwing objects, with organisers empowered to remove those who misbehave.
While the guidelines do not define appropriate attire in detail, they prohibit “immodest or excessively revealing” clothing.
Organisers are also required to brief foreign artistes on Malaysia’s cultural, religious and legal expectations before their shows.
Among the rules are that male performers cannot wear women’s clothes, artistes are prohibited from removing clothing onstage, and they cannot wear outfits that expose the chest or are too far above the knee.
Large-scale concerts of more than 5,000 attendees also cannot be held on the eve or day of Islamic public holidays without approval from religious authorities.
Nik Kamaruzaman said all concerts approved by Puspal are monitored by two to six officers, supported by agencies including police and religious authorities.
He also confirmed the “kill switch” mechanism, which allows concerts to be halted if guidelines are breached, has only been used once since its enforcement, during South Korean singer Hyolyn’s concert in May.
“The number of officers depends on the scale and nature of the event. Under the Incident Management Plan, local authority officers and event organisers have the mandate to activate the kill switch on the advice of Puspal officers,” he said.
The kill switch was first tested during Coldplay’s 2023 concert and formally implemented this year, following the controversy sparked by The 1975’s performance in Kuala Lumpur in July last year.
