Proposal to test urine of concertgoers in Malaysia faces backlash

PETALING JAYA - The Selangor government’s proposal for urine screening for concertgoers to prevent drug use at shows held in the state is impractical, say concert organisers and attendees.

Mr Shirazdeen Abdul Karim, executive producer of Shiraz Projects, said the suggestion is unrealistic as it would be impossible to screen thousands of people without taking too much time.

Mr Shirazdeen, who has hosted global acts such as Canadian band Simple Plan and British singer Bruno Major, proposed addressing the root source of drugs with targeted solutions.

“It’s better for authorities to address the main issue, which is how the drugs got into the country,” he said.

He also suggested stricter measures at rave shows, where drug use is more prevalent, rather than imposing a blanket rule for all concerts in Selangor.

“Drug use mostly persists at DJ shows, so more stringent procedures can be applied there,” he said.

As for scanning machines, he said they are feasible for general security measures, but he doubts they are effective in detecting drugs, as many substances are easily hidden.

“Most of these people take the drugs outside because they know the risk of bringing them into the venue,” he said.

On Jan 6, Datuk Ng Suee Lim, chairman of the Selangor local government and tourism committee, said the state might require concertgoers to undergo urine tests as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent drug use.

Other suggestions being discussed include having scanning equipment to prevent prohibited materials being brought into the venue.

This proposal came about after four people – suspected of consuming Ecstasy – died after attending a New Year’s Eve countdown concert in Selangor.

Livescape Group chief executive officer Iqbal Ameer said the urine test is unrealistic, adding that it would only burden concert organisers and attendees.

“Who’s going to bear the cost of these screenings? Is it the police or the organisers?

“I think the current security checks at concerts are sufficient; in fact, they are already causing long wait times for attendees. Adding more layers isn’t going to solve the drug issue,” he said.

Mr Iqbal suggested alternatives such as drug education and penalties, higher security presence, random urine tests, and access to hydration stations to ensure the safety of concertgoers.

“These measures are already implemented in many places around the world and are proven to be effective without causing major disruptions,” he said.

He suggested that the authorities tighten border controls and address how drugs are entering the country.

“If we had tighter border controls, the rakyat (people) wouldn’t have to deal with such invasive measures,” he said.

Livescape Group previously hosted Rockaway Festival, Malaysia’s largest rock event.

Meanwhile, rave enthusiast Catherine Wong argued that urine screening is too time-consuming and would deter people from attending future concerts. She believes this SOP would be detrimental to organisers, as it would require additional spending on manpower and equipment.

“We already need to queue early before a concert. How much earlier do we need to arrive for screening and how quickly can we get our results?”

“There will also be long queues in the toilets,” said Ms Wong, 28, an accountant.

Graphic designer Samuel Pang shared a similar sentiment, saying it would be more efficient to target drug distributors rather than inconvenience concertgoers.

“It’s unfair for us to undergo such tedious and impractical procedures because of the actions of a few reckless individuals,” said Mr Pang, 24. THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK