KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has introduced five new standard operating procedures (SOP) for concert organisers, especially electronic dance music (EDM) concerts.
Minister Hannah Yeoh said the move, with strategic partnerships with the Home Ministry and Health Ministry, is a proactive measure to curb drug abuse among youth and to ensure entertainment activities are conducted in a safe environment.
The five SOPs include setting up hydration points for concertgoers; putting medical teams on standby for emergency cases; trailer messages, posters, or videos on the dangers of drug abuse and actions one must perform if a concertgoer near them has an emergency; alerting healthcare facilities near concert venues so they are prepared for emergency cases; and deploying K9 units.
“Improving concert organisation SOPs are new conditions for EDM concert organisers, especially when it involves ministry facilities such as the Stadium Corporation (PSM) and Sepang International Circuit (SIC),” she told reporters during a media conference of the Drug-Free Youth campaign at Bukit Jalil Stadium here today.
Yeoh said that with the new SOPs, the SIC and PSM will share their monthly concert schedules with the Royal Malaysia Police and National Anti-Drug Agency.
She encouraged all concert and event organisers at non-ministry facilities to use the SOPs to ensure attendees’ safety and well-being.
As an integrated move, she said the Malaysian AIDS Council will also establish “Safe Space” as reference points on the dangers of drugs and banned substances for attendees.
— Bernama
