Selangor Mulls Urine Screening For Concert Visitors After Pinkfish Deaths
The proposal will be discussed as part of tighter guidelines for concerts to prioritise attendees' safety.
By Sadho Ram — 07 Jan 2025, 02:04 PM
The Selangor government will recommend urine screening as a standard operating procedure (SOP) following the deaths of four people at a recent New Year's Eve event in Petaling Jaya
State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairperson Ng Suee Lim said the proposal will be discussed as part of tighter guidelines for concerts to prioritise attendees' safety.
"Previously, when I went to Genting Highlands to watch the Kitaro concert, everything was checked, including by scanning machines. Even our wallets had to be emptied," he said.
"So, from now on, we might need to conduct urine tests as part of the SOP for visitors... so that people who abuse drugs or are drug addicts are not allowed to enter any concerts (venues)," he added.
He said the SOPs for organising concerts in Selangor will be reviewed and improved, including the need for scanning equipment to detect and prevent prohibited materials from being brought into venues by irresponsible individuals.
Police said the individuals who died after attending the Pinkfish Countdown event were believed to have taken drugs.
Following the incident, Selangor police have temporarily suspended the approvals of concert permits
Asked whether the permit suspension would disrupt the Visit Selangor Year 2025 campaign, Ng said it would affect organisers who had invested money in concert preparations.
However, he said there are currently no events that need postponing.
Ng pointed out that a concert scheduled to be held in Bandar Sunway next week has been moved to Kuala Lumpur, reported Bernama.
