Killing Concerts With Kill Switch

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A decision by Malaysian authorities to introduce the kill switch in case of improper behaviour by Coldplay in Kuala Lumpur made world headlines.(Coldplay Instagram pic)PETALING JAYA: The mandatory kill switch, designed to pull the plug on concerts in the event of nasty incidents, remains in force amid uncertainty over its execution.
Concert promoters, already subject to strict performance restrictions in a high-pitch political battleground, have been left confused and upset for months.
The controversy has triggered a growing chorus calling for clarity or for the kill switch itself to be killed.
They expressed dismay that there is no standard operating procedure (SOP) in the implementation of the precaution, and called for an independent body to take charge.
Without the SOP, anytime anything looks like it could threaten an event, a show can be stopped immediately, they lamented.
Promoters worry that if the responsibility to cut the electricity to stop a show falls on them, they may be liable to lawsuits arising from disputes with artistes, vendors and venue owners. They may also be compelled to entertain claims for refunds by fans.
If a government-authorised person is put in charge, they wonder on what grounds the call to activate the kill switch can be made.
Will this person be immune to legal action, they asked.
They are also anxious about the possibility of chaos in the venue if the kill switch is deployed. This, they say, would require the deployment of heightened security for crowd control which would translate into extra cost to them.
The addition of the kill switch to the guidelines for performers has already deterred artistes from coming to Malaysia, they added.
Some of them said they found it hard to convince artistes that the kill switch is not intended to limit their creative freedom.
Blurred lines
“We are unclear about how it works and feel the matter should be explored comprehensively with the involvement of industry players,” said regional showbiz promoter Syed Mohamed Faiz.
He said: “This is the most bizarre concert rule made by non-entertainment people, who have turned it into a big mess.”
“It’s not just about concerts but other events as well since there are different situations involving different artistes,” he added.
The government introduced the kill switch under pressure following  misbehaviour by British band The 1975 at a concert in Sepang, Selangor, last July.
During the performance, the band’s frontman Matt Healey criticised Malaysia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) laws, uttered profanities, kissed a bandmate, drank, spat and broke a drone on stage on the first day of the event.
The government introduced the kill switch under pressure following the misbehaviour of British band The 1975 at a concert in Sepang, Selangor, last July.Not only did his actions cause The 1975’s gig to be stopped mid-way through, it also saw the three-day Good Vibes Festival cut short.
The festival’s organiser, Future Sound Asia, has filed a civil lawsuit in the UK against the band, demanding RM12.2 million in damages for breach of contract.
Last week, backbencher Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) questioned the need for the kill switch when debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat, bringing pornography into the debate.
Chong said the kill switch was unnecessary as Malaysians could access indecent content such as pornography online regardless of their location.
“What celebrities do on stage can only be seen by those in the stadium. Its influence among the Malaysian people is much less compared to the influence of the internet.
“So, what’s the point of going through all the trouble to set up a kill switch mechanism, with all the restrictions and potential cancellation risks at the end.
“Eventually, A-list celebrities will hesitate to perform in Malaysia,” he said.
In response to Chong’s comments, local promoter Alvin Choo said: “While he appears to be on our side, he missed the salient points to take the issue to another level.”
Choo said he wished there was more support from lawmakers, whom he claimed were reluctant to speak out amid political tensions.
Last November, a decision by Malaysian authorities to enforce the kill switch in case of improper behaviour by Coldplay in Kuala Lumpur made world headlines.
It drew disdain and different interpretations from stakeholders, media and fans.
The mechanism wasn’t used at the Coldplay gig, to the relief of more than 75,000 fans in attendance at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
After the concert, Time magazine said the kill switch was “emblematic of the precariousness that now hangs over international performances in Malaysia.” - FMT

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