Bukit Jalil FMFA cancelled, six dead of suspected drug overdose

Crowd at Future Music Festival Asia, Bukit Jalil, 14th March 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: The Future Music Festival 2014 has been cancelled following the death of six people suspected of drug overdose.

Three others are currently in critical condition and have been sent to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UUMC) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM) due to methamphetamine overdose.

According to Kuala Lumpur police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Mohmad Salleh the six dead were Kamal Zekry Kamal Basha, 22, Victor Wong E Hern, 26, Sabreena Kamaruddin, 21, M.Suresh, 28, Syazana Sohaime, 23, and Nor Faizza Mohd Wazir, 27.

Meanwhile, the three hospitalised are two Singaporeans and one local, between the ages of 19 to 27.

Police believe that the drugs were purchased prior to entering the event held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Throughout the two days of the festival, police also arrested 22 others in possession of narcotics.

"The Cheras police headquarters narcotics team arrested three foreigners in possession of three Ecstasy pills on the first day of the festival. Twelve foreigners and seven locals were arrested a day later for possession of drugs," said Mohmad Salleh.

FMFA 2014 organiser Live Scape Sdn Bhd, in a statement, said that it underwent regular meetings with all agencies involved in the festival including the Royal Malaysia Police, The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Millennium Patriot Security, Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia (RELA) and certified on-site medical doctor and paramedics.

"In the interest of public safery we have heeded the authority's advice to not proceed with Day-3 of FMFA. This is also to help in the on-going investigation," said the organiser.

They added that details of a refund will be announced within a week. Ticket buyers are urged to log on to www.futuremusicfestival.asia for refund details.

FMFA 2014 is reputed to be Southeast Asia's biggest electronic dance music (EDM) festival featuring world number one DJ Armin Van Buuren and a host of other internationally acclaimed artists such as Grammy winners Pharell Williams, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and many others.

Astro Awani