Police in the Malaysian state of Selangor have temporarily suspended concert permits following the suspected drug-related deaths of four people at last month’s Pinkfish Countdown.

The casualties – aged between 20 and 40 – died after attending the New Year’s Eve festival at Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon. All victims had drugs in their blood according to local police, with toxicology reports since referred to the University Malaya Medical Centre. Three other festivalgoers were also hospitalised.

“For now, the police are suspending the approval of any permits for concerts like this until organisers can demonstrate control and ensure such elements do not occur,” Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan told a press conference. “In the future, for any concert, organisers must ensure that they can prevent the entry of drugs at the event. If they fail to do so, we cannot allow it to proceed, as it may result in fatalities.”

The festival, which was curated by Hitman Solutions and Happy Moon, featured acts including Sarah Landry, Showtek, Blasterjaxx, Cosmic Gate and Nifra and attracted around 14,000 fans.

Promoters said they were “deeply saddened” by the deaths and pledged to fully cooperate with the authorities.

They also sought to “reassure the public that every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of our events”, pointing to the presence of more than 100 police officers and the deployment of trained security personnel and K9 units.

Speaking earlier this month, Malaysian Artistes Association president Datuk Freddie Fernandez noted a similar tragedy occurred in 2014, when six people lost their lives at Future Music Festival Asia in Kuala Lumpur.

“Following the incident, several new policies were implemented, including the stipulation that EDM concerts could only be held in enclosed venues to facilitate better control,” he said, as per The Star. “Yet, such a tragedy has happened again. I am unsure about the changes in regulations that now allow concerts in open venues, which are clearly more difficult to manage.

“Losing lives due to drug abuse while enjoying music is deeply distressing. This also tarnishes the concert industry, which serves as a source of livelihood and a vital ecosystem for music practitioners.”

“How can a professional career like music… be labelled as hedonistic culture simply because of the actions of a few?”

Fernandez is calling for closer collaboration on drug awareness campaigns between event organisers and agencies, such as the National Anti-Drugs Agency.

He added: “How can a professional career like music, which is taught in universities worldwide, be labelled as hedonistic culture simply because of the actions of a few? Enjoy entertainment healthily, like engaging in sports. You can sing and dance happily without associating with drugs or a state of intoxication.”

Furthermore, the South China Morning Post reports that Selangor executive councillor Ng Suee Lim has floated the possibility of conducting urine tests on attendees, as well as installing airport-style security scanners in a bid to keep drugs out of events.

There have also been pleas for drug-testing infrastructure to be introduced in the country, similar to that deployed in other markets around the world – the recent launch of a landmark new pill-testing trial at Australia’s Beyond The Valley was hailed as a huge success by promoter Untitled Group.

Investigations are also ongoing after two males – a 32-year-old American and 28-year-old Canadian – died after attending Electric Daisy Carnival’s debut in Phuket, Thailand, over the weekend.

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Four people have died after attending New Year’s Eve music festival Pinkfish Countdown 2024 in Selangor, Malaysia.

The victims – two men and two women aged between 20 and 40 – are suspected to have taken ecstasy, according to local police. Two other festivalgoers are also being treated in hospital, while another has been discharged.

Sudden death investigations have been opened with toxicology results still pending, according to Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan.

“From our preliminary investigation, it was found that all four [who died] attended the Pinkfish concert at Sunway Lagoon on the night of the incident and are believed to have taken ecstasy pills,” says Khan, as per Free Malaysia.

“Police have recorded statements from six witnesses, and several others will be called to assist in the investigation, including the concert organisers and the victims’ friends.”

The festival, which was curated by Hitman Solutions and Happy Moon, took place at Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon, on 31 December. Top-billed acts included Sarah Landry, Showtek, Blasterjaxx, Cosmic Gate and Nifra.

“As the event organiser, we are fully committed to cooperating with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident”

The team behind the event has expressed its condolences to the families and friends of the victims, and vowed to fully cooperate with the investigation, while noting the fatalities “occurred outside the event’s premises”.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident following Pinkfish Countdown 2024 which resulted in the loss of four lives,” says a statement from Pinkfish Management. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the four individuals during this difficult time.

“As the event organiser, we are fully committed to cooperating with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and took note of the Royal Malaysian Police’s (PDRM) confirmation that these deaths occurred outside the event’s premises.”

Promoters are also seeking to provide reassurance over their existing safety measures.

“The safety and well-being of our attendees, staff and surrounding community have always been our highest priority, and we are working closely with the relevant agencies to provide the necessary support to those impacted, included families of the deceased,” adds the statement.

“While we await the outcome of the full investigation into this incident, we wish to reassure the public that every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of our events, including Pinkfish Countdown 2024. These measures include, among others, the presence of more than 100 police officers and the deployment of trained security personnel and K9 units at all entrance points.”

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