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FMFA 2014 Drug Overdose Tragedy: Latest Updates On SAYS

Day 3 of Future Music Festival Asia 2014 was cancelled following reports of deaths by drug overdoses on day 2 of the festival.

Cover image via mstar

[SHARE] How To Get Your Day 3 FMFA 2014 Ticket Refund

Refund details for Day 3 of FMFA 2014.

Image via FMFA

"We thank you all for your patience. Kindly log on to our official FMFA 2014 website for detailed refund procedures.

futuremusicfestival.asia

Youth And Sports Minister Khairy Says Banning Concerts Or Raves Will Not End Drug Abuse

Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) said his ministry has proposed working with the Home Ministry on an outreach programme on designer drugs that have become increasingly popular.

Image via Malay Mail

Banning concerts or raves will not end drug abuse, minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today after six youths died at the recent Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) from drug use last week.

themalaymailonline.com

“We need to teach and expose young people to the dangers of drugs; it only takes a bad batch of drugs,” Khairy told a news conference at the Asia Pacific NGO Conference on Human Trafficking here today.

themalaymailonline.com

He added that his ministry has proposed working with the Home Ministry on an outreach programme on designer drugs, like ecstasy or methamphetamines that have become increasingly popular.

themalaymailonline.com

On 18 March 2014, BN Kajang By-Election Candidate Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun Said Pakatan Should Be Blamed For The Deaths At FMFA 2014

Chew claimed the deaths could have been avoided had the state government adopted more ‘effective’ policies to tackle existing ‘social problems’, and attempted to link the drug deaths with the alleged rise of massage parlours and illegal cyber cafes in Selangor since PR took over in 2008.

Image via Malay Mail

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government should be blamed for the six drug-related deaths at the Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA), Barisan Nasional (BN) Kajang by-election candidate Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun has said.

themalaymailonline.com

hew claimed the deaths could have been avoided had the state government adopted more “effective” policies to tackle existing “social problems”, and attempted to link the drug deaths with the alleged rise of massage parlours and illegal cyber cafes in Selangor since PR took over in 2008.

themalaymailonline.com

“However, after Pakatan took over the state’s administration, the number of massage parlours flew drastically from 800 to 3,200,” she said in a statement today, adding that based on a 2010 report by The Star, the number of illegal cyber cafes in Selangor outnumbered the licensed cyber cafes 3 to 1, with 600 licenced cyber cafes compared to 1,800 illegal ones.

themalaymailonline.com

The MCA vice-president, however, did not show how having massage parlours and cyber cafes would cause more people to take drugs.

themalaymailonline.com

On 19 March 2014, Home Minister Zahid Hamidi Said FMFA Organisers Could Face Stern Action

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the police were still trying to determine the origin of the drugs and the culprits who distributed it.

Image via Malay Mail

Stern action should be taken against the organisers of the Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) 2014 if it is proven they failed to prevent drug and alcohol abuse during the event, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

themalaymailonline.com

“The organiser should be responsible and they should observe the conditions given. The audience cannot bring in drugs and alcohol, and that was why the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar called me on the third night to get permission for the cancellation and I ordered it to be cancelled.

themalaymailonline.com

Ahmad Zahid said the police were still trying to determine the origin of the drugs, believed to be new to Malaysia, and the culprits who distributed it.

nst.com.my

Killer Drugs At FMFA 2014 Reportedly Possibly From Infamous Drug Manufacturing Hub

Police at the entrance of FMFA 2014.

Image via ST

Six of the people who died from taking the new ecstasy drug succumbed within 10 minutes.

malaysiandigest.com

Federal narcotics Crime Investigation Department director commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim revealed the drugs could have originated from the Golden Triangle — an infamous drug manufacturing hub that cuts across Vietnam to Cambodia.

themalaymailonline.com

“The symptoms of the victims showed a similar effect to those who consume methamphetamine or Ecstasy.”

themalaymailonline.com

A police source also revealed police were investigating if the drug was tab — a piece of blotting paper laced with lysergic acid diethylamide (or better known as LSD) — and if the content of the drug could have been mixed wrongly.

themalaymailonline.com

On 16 March 2014, FMFA Revealed Detailed Operational Strategies From "Countless Hours" Of Planning

In a press release dated 16 March 2014, the organisers of Future Music Festival revealed detailed several strategies including operational plans addressing patron safety and management, local amenity, traffic management, security and emergency medical procedures prepared for the event.

bit.ly

Enraged FMFA goers outside the entrance on Day 3 of FMFA 2014.

Image via Aaron Lee/Facebook

"The organisers of the festival are deeply saddened by the reported loss of lives on Friday 14th March. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those affected."

facebook.com

Press release by FMFA 2014 in relation to strategic planning.

Image via SAYS

Press release by FMFA 2014 in relation to strategic planning.

Image via SAYS

Press release by FMFA 2014 in relation to strategic planning.

Image via SAYS

On 16 March 2014, KL Police Confirmed 6 People Suffocated After Taking Drugs While Attending Future Music Festival Asia 2014

Official statement from the head police of Cheras.

Image via PDRM

Kuala Lumpur Police have confirmed six people suffocated after taking drugs while attending the Future Music Festival Asia at Bukit Jalil Stadium on Saturday. The 6 people were all locals, aged from 19 to 28. Police confirm they were pronounced dead upon arrival at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (PPUKM).

themalaymailonline.com

Police have identified the 6 people who died after taking drugs while attending the FMFA at the Bukit Jalil Stadium here on Saturday, forcing the organiser to cancel its show yesterday. The dead were Kamal Zekry Kamal Basha, 21, Victor Wong E. Hern, 25, Sabreena Kamarudin, 21, M. Suresh, 27, Syazana Sohaime, 23, and Nor Faizza Mohd Wazir, 26.

thestar.com.my

The men who were in critical condition, including two foreigners were being treated in UMMC and PPUKM. Two of them were Singaporeans and the third a local, aged between 19 to 27, he said. “The six victims who died were believed to have taken the drug methamphetamine before going to the concert. “The drug is known as ‘designer drug’ or synthetic drugs, which is called meth,” he said. He added that autopsies conducted on the victims found that they had died from drug overdose. Mohmad said the drugs were sold at between RM60 to RM100 a pill, depending on its contents.

nst.com.my

Amirul Aftar, Who Claims To Be The Brother Of Deceased 21-Year-Old Sabreena Kamarudin, Urged The Public To Refrain From Making Speculations Or Throwing Insults Via His Sister's Facebook Account

A Facebook post made by an 'Amirul Aftar', claiming to be brother of the deceased.

Image via Sabreena Kamarudin/Facebook

Reports Of The Overdoses And Cancelled Music Festival, Which Originates From Australia, Has Appeared On BBC, The Sydney Morning Herald, Rolling Stone And More

In The Mix's report on FMFA 2014.

Image via SAYS

Sydney Morning Herald's article on the drug overdose in connection with Future Music Festival Asia.

Image via SAYS

BBC's report on FMFA 2014.

Image via SAYS

Initial reports from the festival, held at Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, had the death count at six, but the BBC confirms that only one person died.

rollingstone.com

Police arrested 19 festival-goers, including 12 foreigners from Australia, Singapore and Indonesia, and seven locals for possession of drugs during the two-day concert.

smh.com.au

An Earlier FMFA Statement Claimed That Only One, And Not Five, Died On Festival Grounds

This statement is in response to news reported in the media on the 5 alleged deaths associated with FMFA last night. As the health and safety of all festival goers are our primary concern, we have lodged an investigation into the media reports. As at 5.00PM on March 15, we can confirm that one death, and not five, took place on festival grounds on March 14.

facebook.com

FMFA Further Said In Its Statement That "FMFA Underwent Regular Meetings With All Agencies Involved In The Festival Prior To And During The Event"

FMFA goers waiting outside the entrance of FMFA 2014 on day 3 of the festival.

Image via The Star

A police report has been filed and we are working very closely with all relevant authorities in examining and determining the cause of this very unfortunate incident.

facebook.com

FMFA underwent regular meetings with all agencies involved in the festival (including the Royal Malaysia Police, The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, Bukit Jalil National stadium, Millennium Patriot Security, Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia (RELA) and our certified on-site medical doctor and paramedics) prior to and during the event.

facebook.com

On 15 March, FMFA And Its Organisers Livescape Asia Issued A Public Statement Announcing The Cancellation Of Day 3 Of The Music Festival

Image via imgur.com

In the interest of public safety we have heeded the authority’s advice to not proceed with Day-3 of Future Music Festival Asia 2014. This is also to help in the on-going investigation. We appreciate the understanding of all parties and will share updates on this matter as soon as possible.

facebook.com

Details Of Refunds Will Be Announced On 21 March 2014 At 3PM

Details of refunds will be announced within one week. Ticket buyers are urged to logon to FMFA for refund details.

facebook.com

Earlier In The Afternoon At About 1PM, Yuna Was Already Doing A Sound Check At The Venue

Yuna on soundcheck at Bukit Jalil.

Image via FMFA/Instagram

Artistes Including Pharrel, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, And Yuna Were Scheduled To Perform On Day 3 Of FMFA 2014

On 19 March 2014, Life In Color Announced The Cancellation Of The "World's Largest Paint Party" Following The "Unfortunate Events That Took Place This Past Weekend"

ALSO ON SAYS: Did They Deserve To Die Because They Took A Drug?

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