Selangor mulls urine screening for concerts following NYE deaths

The Selangor government will recommend urine screening as a standard operating procedure (SOP) for visitors in an effort to prevent any involvement or use of drugs at concerts held in the state.

State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairperson Ng Suee Lim said the recommendation is among matters to be discussed and detailed at the state executive council meeting on Wednesday (Jan 8).

He said the SOPs for organising concerts will be reviewed for shortcomings and possible improvements, including providing scanning equipment so any prohibited material can be prevented from being brought into the venue by irresponsible parties.

“We want to tighten the SOP and look at what cooperation can be conducted with the police and local authorities because when licences or permits are granted, we want to ensure that the organisers thoroughly check (especially regarding drugs).

“So, from now on, we might need to conduct urine tests as part of the SOP for visitors, and this recommendation will be brought up at the exco meeting so that people who abuse drugs or are drug addicts are not allowed to enter any concerts (venues),” he said after officiating the Workshop on Engagement Session for Coordination and Standardisation of Best Practices for Local Authorities today.

Ng was commenting on media inquiries on the state government’s efforts to review the concert implementation guidelines in Selangor to prevent the occurrence of drug-related deaths.

Selangor Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairperson Mohd Najwan Halimi previously said that his team views the deaths at a New Year countdown concert seriously and discussions will be held with Ng for that purpose.

On whether the suspension of concert permit issuance would disrupt the Visit Selangor Year 2025 campaign, Ng said it would affect organisers who have invested money in concert preparations.

However, he said there currently aren’t any events that need to be postponed, noting that a concert in Bandar Sunway next week has been moved to Kuala Lumpur instead.

Last Friday, the Selangor police announced a temporary suspension of concert permits in Selangor until the investigation into the deaths of four individuals who died after attending the Pinkfish Concert in Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, is completed.

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the immediate order would remain in force until his team is confident that organisers can guarantee that they can control the concerts, especially to prevent criminal elements, such as drug distribution.

The four deceased linked to the New Year’s Eve concert were in their 20s to 40s and included two women.

- Bernama

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