During a concert at the Good Vibes Festival(21-23 # days) in Sepang on 21/7/2023. Singer Matty Healy of the 1975 allegedly spoke out against Malaysia’s laws/policies against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community and allegedly "kissed" his male bandmate in the middle of the show.
The Anwar Ibrahim PH-led unity government's reaction - CANCEL THE GOOD VIBES FESTIVAL (2 remaining days). Little concern for the people who came to attend, the performers (including local performers), organizers and staff, small businesses who open spots to sell drinks, food, etc.
In the same way, you cannot cancel a peaceful assembly midway when one or few break the laws. Arrest only the perpetrators and let the assembly continue. Likewise, the government should have allowed the festival to continue - and arrested the few that broke the law...
The people who bought tickets, came down for the concert(some possibly from overseas), other performers, stall owners including food/drinks etc all suffered by reason the government action. Reimbursement of tickets only will not compensate the victims...
Was Singer Matty Healy of the 1975 and other band members arrested, investigated and charged in court? WHY NOT if they broke Malaysian laws?
Was this preferential treatment because he was a celebrity? OR maybe no laws were broken - and, this was nothing more than a pre-State elections gimmick to woo support?
In Malaysia, for such concerts, the authorities usually demand the LIST of performers before giving the needed approval, or has this been changed.
Given the fact, that to date, Matty Healy have not been charged....demands us to look into what exactly did they do wrong...
Well, what exactly was said was difficult to find - but a Guardian report stated as follows..
The band were banned from playing in Malaysia after the lead singer, Matty Healy, criticised the country’s anti-LGBT laws on stage in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.
“I don’t see the fucking point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy said. “Unfortunately you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious.
“And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. Because you’re young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool.”
Healy then kissed bass player Ross MacDonald as they played the song I Like America & America Likes Me. About 30 minutes later the band walked off stage, with Healy telling the audience: “All right, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later.” - Guardian, 23/7/2023
Was expressing an opinion about the government's 'attempts' to control who we have sex with an offense - surely, not? Freedom of expression and opinions..
Are singers prevented from expressing their opinions and to stick to just singing?
Hopefully, the government do not respond saying that only Malaysians can express an opinion about what the government says/do - ABSURD today, where even in the UN and outside, governments do criticize other governments. Malaysia and individual Malaysians also have openly criticized actions of other governments - Myanmar, Israel, Palestine,......
Well, the kissing - it could be an offence > but then, why was Matty Healy not even arrested, or charged. There would have been so many witnesses. Could be charged for the offence of outrage on decency? Maybe.
377D Outrages on decency (Penal Code)
Any person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any person of, any act of gross indecency with another person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.
There is, however, NO LAW in Malaysia prohibiting sexual preferences.
What about the Sodomy Law?
377A Carnal intercourse against the order of nature
Any person who has sexual connection with another person by the introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth of the other person is said to commit carnal intercourse against the order of nature.
Explanation - Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual connection necessary to the offence described in this section.
377B provides for the punishment 'imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be punished with whipping.'
377C Committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent, etc.
Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against the order of nature on another person without the consent, or against the will, of the other person, or by putting the other person in fear of death or hurt to the person or any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than twenty years, and shall also be punished with whipping.
Now, even if in a marriage a couple consensually ' cause the introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth of the other person, it is a CRIME punishable with imprisonment '...which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be punished with whipping...' Should not this provision be repealed?
In the past some cultures and religion took the position that sexual intercourse is just for the purposes of procreation, and as such intercourse not for procreation is wrong - using a condom or birth control would all be wrong. Well, the world has changed ... and today, sexual relations for reasons other than procreation have been accepted.
Now, as mentioned earlier, the 'introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth' whether the partner is women or man is simply absurd - this law, section 377A and 377B, must be repealed, let us not criminalize what happens between consenting adults.
However, 377C is different - as it is doing thing to another WITHOUT HIS/HER CONSENT - this is tantamount to RAPE, and should be treated as such.
There is NO LAW, as far as I know, that criminalizes sexual preferences or activities done in private in Malaysia.
So, let's not make any laws that tells us what we should do or not do in private between consenting adults in PRIVATE - and note, in Malaysia, there is also NO LAW that criminalizes pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, etc
POLITICAL or PERSONAL reasons
Well, it is a fact that Malaysia's current Prime Minister has been charged twice for SODOMY, where in one case he was acquitted and the other was convicted and served his sentence - A Royal Pardon at the tail-end of his sentence released him and also allowed him to contest in elections. Of course, Anwar has always maintained innocence. Is this 'stain' the reason why he takes a strong position against homosexuality?
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured the LGBT group (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders), the concept of a secular state and communist ideology will never be recognised during the administration of the Unity Government.-
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil pulled the plug on the remainder of the three-day Good Vibes Festival 2023 this afternoon after one of the international artistes pulled a “non-compliance” stunt on stage that breached Malaysian laws....“I want to stress that the Unity Government’s stand is very clear. No compromise towards anyone who challenges, ridicules and violates Malaysian laws. “I have ordered the immediate cancellation of the rest of the festival that was scheduled to run from today to tomorrow, July 23,” he posted on Twitter.
The 1975 cancel shows in Indonesia and Taiwan after Malaysia gay kiss uproar
English band say it is ‘impossible to proceed’ with concerts after set in Kuala Lumpur was cut short
The British pop-rock band the 1975 have cancelled forthcoming concerts in Indonesia and Taiwan after their gig in Malaysia was cut short.
The band were banned from playing in Malaysia after the lead singer, Matty Healy, criticised the country’s anti-LGBT laws on stage in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in prison.
“I don’t see the fucking point of inviting the 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy said. “Unfortunately you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious.
“And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. Because you’re young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool.”
Healy then kissed bass player Ross MacDonald as they played the song I Like America & America Likes Me. About 30 minutes later the band walked off stage, with Healy telling the audience: “All right, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, see you later.”
The following day, organisers of Malaysia’s Good Vibes festival announced that its remaining lineup had been cancelled.
The decision was made after an “immediate cancellation directive” from Malaysia’s ministry of communications and digital as part of its “unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule or contravene Malaysian laws”, a statement said.
In a statement shared by We the Fest, a music festival in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, where the 1975 were scheduled to perform on Sunday, the band said they had cancelled their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei.
“The band never takes the decision to cancel a show lightly and had been eagerly looking forward to playing for fans in Jakarta and Taipei but unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows.”
The band did not elaborate on the circumstances.
Despite several local bylaws discriminating against LGBTQ+ people in Indonesia, its national laws have never made homosexuality a criminal offence.
But there have been attempts to criminalise homosexuality by conservative politicians and groups, while gay couples often face discrimination in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. The Indonesian government and festival organisers have yet to comment on the cancellation.
Taiwan is largely seen as a country that welcomes the LGBT community, and was the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
The onstage protest was not a first for Healy, who kissed a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, which also has tough anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
But some of Malaysia’s LGBT community were frustrated by events on Friday and worried the incident would lead to further discrimination.
Carmen Rose, a Malaysian drag queen, told the BBC Healy’s actions were “performative” and “unruly”. “If he was doing it for our community,” she added, “he would know what consequences we would have to go through.” - Guardian, 23/7/2023
PM Anwar: LGBT, secularism, communism will never be recognised in unity govt
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured the LGBT group (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders), the concept of a secular state and communist ideology will never be recognised during the administration of the Unity Government.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) in its ‘Naratif Khas Bersama Perdana Menteri’ programme tonight, Anwar said the matter was only raised by certain parties to spread lies.
“Sometimes these politicians will say that if Anwar becomes prime minister then Islam will be ruined, secularism and communism will gain a foothold, and LGBT will be recognised.
“This is a delusion. Of course, it will not happen and God willing under my administration this is not going to happen,” he said.
He said this when asked about allegations that describe him as a leader who runs a dictatorial government.
On the claim that the cooperation agreement between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the coalitions in support of the formation of the unity government administration was forged because his administration was not strong, Anwar said it was done because the majority obtained at that time was too narrow.
However, to prove that he has the support, Anwar said he brought the confidence vote motion in parliament last year after being challenged by the Opposition who questioned his legitimacy.
“This vote of confidence motion was being challenged by the opposition. They said Anwar had no support... and in a democratic system, the best way to prove is through a vote of confidence or a vote of no confidence which was not proposed.
“So, I submitted this (the motion) and Alhamdulillah we have strong support. So, my question is where is the dictator? Am I breaking the law?” he said.
On the first day of the sitting, Anwar's legitimacy as the 10th Prime Minister was proven when the motion of confidence tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was passed with a voice vote of which more voices were in favour.
Asked about the lawsuits he filed against several individuals, Anwar said it was because their accusations touched his authority as a leader.
“Thousands of accusations have been made, slanders have been hurled and for decades I have accepted it but if I feel it is too much as they question my authority and credibility as a leader, then they should be taught that this freedom is not the freedom to slander.
“...we use religion, then we slander, we make qazaf (accusations), I would like to ask their teachers, ustaz (religious teacher), to teach them first before teaching others,” he added.
Since taking the oath of office as prime minister on November 24 last year Anwar has filed lawsuits against several individuals including Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for making false accusations against him. — Bernama - Malay Mail, 7/1/2023
Communications minister cancels Good Vibes Fest 2023 after British band’s stage kiss, rant against govt on opening day
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil pulled the plug on the remainder of the three-day Good Vibes Festival 2023 this afternoon after one of the international artistes pulled a “non-compliance” stunt on stage that breached Malaysian laws.
He said he called for a meeting with the festival organiser Future Sound Asia after the “very rude” act displayed by British band The 1975 last night at the Sepang International Circuit.
“I want to stress that the Unity Government’s stand is very clear. No compromise towards anyone who challenges, ridicules and violates Malaysian laws.
“I have ordered the immediate cancellation of the rest of the festival that was scheduled to run from today to tomorrow, July 23,” he posted on Twitter.
Fahmi said he understood the implication of his decision on those who had already bought the tickets to the three-day music festival and called on the organiser to come up with a compensation mechanism for them.
He said the government is committed to supporting the development of the creative industry and freedom of speech, but added a caution.
“Do not ever touch on issues that are sensitive to society, especially those that go against local custom and cultural values.”
The 10th anniversary edition of the music festival that kicked off yesterday was halted when Matt Healy, the frontman of British band The 1975, launched into an expletive-riddled tirade against Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws and followed up with a deep mouth-to-mouth kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald.
The stunt was widely shared on social media by concertgoers who captured the moment on their smartphones and sparked intense debate that went international.
Two hours ago, Singaporean singer Druv, who was also scheduled to perform at the Good Vibes Festival in Sepang, took to Instagram that he would not be attending.
The Double Take singer claimed he had been stuck at the airport for 14 hours and was barred from entering Malaysia.
“I am so sorry to anyone that got a ticket to see me play.
“I’m devastated but I will make it my number one priority to come back here,” he posted on Instagram Stories.
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