KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has voiced its opposition to the upcoming Water Musical Festival set to take place in Bukit Bintang here.
Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar said having an open large-scale event involving "free mixing and a festival-like atmosphere" should be reviewed.
"It should be reviewed in terms of values, decorum, local cultural sensitivities and social harmony, as Malaysia is a multiracial nation with Islam as the religion of the Federation.
"Organising such a programme at a critical and crowded area such as Bukit Bintang will cause disruption to the workforce, businesses and traffic, as well as bring safety and health risks including congestion, vandalism, pollution and moral disturbance," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 28).
He said tourism should not only be seen through the lens of entertainment but must revolve around sustainability, the people’s welfare and the nation’s image.
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He stressed that the protest against the event was not a rejection of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
"I urge the government to review the event in terms of location, scale and event format by having an engagement session with residents, businesses and stakeholders.
"The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall should prioritise tourism events with elements of culture, family and community to reflect Malaysia’s global image and values," he said.
Sukri also highlighted countries such as Japan and South Korea for upholding discipline, decorum and traditional values by promoting their own cultures, while Morocco and Turkiye promoted their architecture, clothing and Islamic traditions as attractions.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing announced on Jan 21 that the festival is among the key events lined up for VM2026.
He said certain roads in the area will be closed to accommodate the event, set for May 1 and scheduled to run for three days in conjunction with the Tourism Labour Day celebration.
