YOUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has expressed support for the decision to cancel the Good Vibes Festival 2023 in Sepang due to a controversial stunt by British rock band The 1975.

Yeoh said the band indulged in improper behaviour and breached conditions set for the festival to be organised.

“I have contacted Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and expressed support for his action because there are terms and conditions for holding any programme. The organisers needed to abide by the conditions set.

“I hope youth groups in Malaysia know we support freedom of speech, freedom of expression, but there are limits and laws to follow in Malaysia,” she told reporters at the closing ceremony of the Artalive Challenge Cup Amputee Football 2023 championship in Shah Alam today.

Yesterday, Fahmi described the band’s actions as insolent and ordered the immediate cancellation of the festival, which was supposed to end today.

The Communications and Digital Ministry, through the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes, yesterday decided to blacklist the British band from performing in Malaysia.

The band’s performance was halted after its frontman Matty Healy, holding a bottle of liquor onstage, launched into an expletive-riddled tirade against Malaysia’s LGBT laws and kissed bassist Ross MacDonald. – Bernama, July 23, 2023.