Tuesday May 13, 2008
More stringent rules for events in PD
WITH immediate effect, those planning events in Port Dickson will be subjected to more stringent rules.
Negri Sembilan state tourism, unity, culture, arts and heritage and Malay customs committee chairman Mohammad Razi Kail announced this in the resort town yesterday.
Razi said although the state had big plans to promote Port Dickson as a tourist destination, it wpuld not allow event organisers to simply do as they wished.
“What happened in the beach town over the weekend is sad. Some people have little respect for local traditions,” he said.
Razi was commenting on the so-called “2 Days to Freedom” event held at a popular resort along Jalan Pantai in Port Dickson over the weekend where thousands of youths, many in skimpy clothing and intoxicated, created a scandalous display of immoral behaviour.
“Although the locals here welcomed outsiders, they should not take advantage of their hospitality,” he said.
During the frenzy party, some youths were found to be drunk in the wee hours of the morning and had to be carried back to their cars or hotel rooms.
Police arrested 41 youths for alleged substance abuse.
According to Razi, the lack of enforcement was the main reason many young revellers went berserk at the party.
He said that although there were several policemen on duty, they were unable to control the crowd that swelled to over 10,000 during the two day period
Each individual was charged RM113 to enter the area where the event was held at a resort along Jalan Pantai
According to a website set up by the organisers, among those attending the two-day party were world renowned deejays Tiesto, Ferry Corsten and German trance duo Cosmic Gate.
The organisers could not be reached for comment.
The event, organised by a company from Kuala Lumpur, was supposed to be a fusion of music, visual arts, cuisine and beach activities.
State human capital, youth and sports committee chairman Abdul Samad Ibrahim, meanwhile, said that instead of promoting tourism, the event had tarnished the image of the resort town as the premier family tourist destination south of Kuala Lumpur.
“Everyone is talking about the event and they are not saying good things. People are asking why beer and liquor was freely available at an event meant for youths,” he said.
State narcotics chief Supt R. Ravichandran said among the 41 youths arrested for alleged substance abuse were college and private university students.
According to Ravichandran, most of them consumed ketamine pills and syabu, while some were also high on heroin.
“They are still in police custody and we would be charging them for possession of the various drugs,” he said.
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