It was suspicion of drug-related offences that sent Brickfields police to check on a New Year's eve concert in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

District police chief Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said this yesterday when asked to comment on a number of issues raised in relation to the raid.

Specific complaints were that the police had raided a private function and that a handful of those detained had been produced before the media and subjected to 'hostile' questions.

Concern was also expressed that the raid was conducted on moralistic grounds because 'Black Metal' music was allegedly involved.

Mohd Dzuraidi clarified that the raid was a routine operation based on a tipoff from the public.

"We had reason to believe that they were under the influence of alcohol and drugs while some were acting violently at the time," he said, explaining why 365 individuals were arrested.

Seven (not eight as reported) of them allegedly tested positive for drugs and the rest were subsequently released. A hospital report is pending to confirm drug use by the seven.

Three others were detained under the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984 for allegedly distributing pamphlets without a permit during the raid, which began at 10.45pm.

Another person, said to be in charge of organising the concert, is being investigated under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Entertainment Act for failure to produce an entertainment permit.

All four have been released on police bail and will have to report to the station on Jan 15 when their bail period expires.

Press conference

On claims that the event - themed This Year's Final Threat - was a private function, Dzuraidi countered: "If it was a private function, why were organisers selling tickets to members of the public?"

When asked why private television station TV3 was allowed to interview some of the detainees at the police station, Dzuraidi said this was done with the consent of the detainees. He said they were assured that their comments to the media would not be used against them.

"It was not an offence. They ( TV3 ) might have wanted to know why these individuals attended the concert...(it was not done) to exploit or sensationalise their arrest," he said.

The footage of the raid was aired on Buletin Utama on Jan 1, but the faces of the interviewees were pixelised (blurred). Six detainees attended the press conference, during which they answered questions from Dzuraidi and journalists.

According to Malay tabloid Harian Metro , some of the questions posed by Dzuraidi to the unidentified six included:

  • Have you attended 'Black Metal' festivals before?

  • Are you all aware that the gathering (at the venue) was wrong and illegal?

  • Would you agree if I say that the activity involved is unhealthy?

  • What's your opinion of 'Black Metal' culture?

  • Why was alcohol sold at the 'Black Metal' music festival when most of the concert goers are Muslim youths?

  • Is it true that there is no element of devil worship in your music? Why does the brochure confiscated by the police have the word Syaitan and a Jewish symbol and the word f***'?

  • Don't you think that this festival which involves free mingling among several hundred male and female youths under crowded conditions is immoral?

    • The activists have also attacked journalists as being unethical in questioning the six.

    Police advice

    On claims that the police had denied at least one detainee his right to counsel, Dzuraidi said it had not been possible to meet such requests at the time.

    Lawyer N Surendran, who was at the police station two hours after the raid, claimed that the police denied his client to counsel, in violation of Article 5 (3) of the Federal Constitution.

    "We were in the process of documenting at the time, and we could not fulfil his request. We had to process papers for 365 people that night. It's not that we don't want (to allow Surendran to meet his client). (He should) just let us finish our job first," said Dzuraidi.

    Meanwhile, Dzuraidi advised youths to make an effort to find out if organisers of concerts they are attending have obtained valid permits.

    "When (event organisers) apply for permits, we look at safety, traffic flow and many other aspects before we give approval," he said.

    "If the event has elements which are immoral and against religion, we would not authorise it. Youths should not blindly follow their friends and trends. They should look after their own well being," he added.