PETALING JAYA: It was not about politics but an explanation of the controversy surrounding British pop rock band The 1975 when he spoke in a mosque in Rawang, says Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil (pic).
“There was nothing political at all (about the talk),” he said in refuting claims that he had made a political speech in a mosque, adding that he was prepared to cooperate in any investigation into the incident.
“For now, I have not checked (whether or not I have received a call), but if I’m called, I will come forward,” he told reporters after delivering his keynote address at the Public Sector Day programme yesterday.
Fahmi said he had already clarified the matter on Facebook and Twitter, adding that he had been invited by the mosque committee to explain the decision to ban The 1975 and cancel the Good Vibes Festival (GVF) 2023.
On July 22, the government cancelled the GVF following The 1975’s controversial conduct and remarks during their performance at the Sepang International Circuit. This cancellation came after the band’s frontman Matty Healy slammed Malaysia’s LGBT laws and kissed his male bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage during the concert.
Expressing disappointment over how certain parties were trying to politicise the issue, Fahmi said he was also considering suing those who had allegedly defamed him.
Recently, a Facebook post had made its rounds on social media claiming that Fahmi spoke about political issues in a mosque.
According to news reports, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) is investigating the allegations and that the mosque’s ‘nazir’ (guardian) had been called for his statement.
An eyewitness said that contrary to allegations, Fahmi did not speak about politics during his visit to the mosque on Sunday.
Mohd Shukri Abdullah, who was present at Masjid Nurul Yaqin Sri Kundang where the talk took place, said that Fahmi had instead spoken at length about the GVF 2023 controversy.
“He spoke about the band. He did not touch on politics at all. I was there from the beginning, where he spoke for about 12 minutes,” said the 43-year-old businessman when contacted.
In a 12-minute clip sighted by The Star, Fahmi was seen explaining the sequence of events that led to his cancelling the festival, and how there was a need to come up with new measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
“Fahmi was also explaining his responsibilities as a minister when such incidents occur,” said Mohd Shukri.
Meanwhile, the police said they had opened an investigation to look into the allegation.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the police had received a recording of the speech and would scrutinise its contents.
“Let us listen to the recording. We will give feedback on it once this is done,” he said after witnessing Sime Darby Property Bhd’s auxiliary police seventh year celebration at Universiti Putra Malaysia yesterday.
He said the investigation was being carried out under both the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act.
