HOME Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has urged for a more comprehensive screening and profiling process on foreign artistes before they are allowed to perform in the country.

He said even though the government adopts a friendly approach in accepting any artiste to perform, it must not sacrifice the values, culture and religious beliefs of the country.

“Organisers must learn from this incident because something that is considered good abroad is not necessarily the same in our country.

“So it is the responsibility of the organiser to assess a performance so that it is compatible with local cultural practices and sensitivities,” he told reporters after the Malaysia Madani  Human Capital and Personality Development Seminar in Kuala Ketil today.

He was commenting on the distasteful behaviour of British band The 1975 at the Good Vibes Festival 2023 in Sepang last night.

Saifuddin said although entertainment is widely enjoyed in Malaysia, the band’s behaviour demonstrated a disregard for good values and is deemed unacceptable.

With regard to the vocalist’s criticism of Malaysia’s LGBT laws, he said international performers have a duty to educate themselves on a country’s laws.

“Let this episode serve as a valuable lesson for everyone. Having watched the video clip that was shared with me multiple times, I noticed there were no sentences that were not laced with cursing. He also openly consumed alcohol and engaged in behaviour that contradicted local values and culture.

“I think they can convey or voice their frustration with some rules that are considered to restrict freedom and so on, but they have to know that this country upholds the rule of law,” he said, adding that no religion in this country can accept the band’s behaviour. – Bernama, July 22, 2023.