COMMENT | Our Rain Rave street party became a “raving rage” after condemnation from the usual political moral brigade. But surprise, surprise, Arab countries have also had mega electronic dance music (EDM) festivals before the current war.

Videos of events like Ultra Abu Dhabi and Untold Dubai show DJs pumping out throbbing beats as huge crowds rock their hips. Yes, they were open-air rave parties (minus the sprayed “rain”) which our local ethical guardians should also have condemned as “maksiat” (depraved).

Maybe those two cities in the United Arab Emirates are more liberal. What is more shocking is that even Saudi Arabia had the mega dance fest called MDLBEAST Soundstorm in Riyadh.

The country is trying to move forward by diversifying its economy to various sectors, including tourism. But here in Malaysia, some are demanding that we go backwards.

Many may think of the Middle East as...