Six deaths force Future Music Asia to cancel final day
Six deaths at Future Music’s Malaysian leg has caused organisers to cancel the final day of Future Music Festival Asia.
Kuala Lumpur Police confirmed media reports that six local festival-goers, aged between 19 and 28, had suffocated after taking methamphetamine before entering the festival grounds. Another three were reportedly in critical condition after collapsing at the festival.
Senior Deputy Comm Datkuk Mohmad Salleh told The Star, “All tested positive for high levels of drugs and the deaths have been classified as overdose.”
According to the report from AAP, the six were pronounced dead upon arrival at two different medical centres, the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (PPUKM).
Iqbal Ameer, Director of Livescape Asia and Brett Robinson, Director of Future Entertainment read an official statement before press on Saturday night. The pair said they have heeded advice from Kuala Lumpur Police in not proceeding with day three of the electronic music festival.
The statement also responds to reports five of the deaths occurred at Future Music Festival Asia. “[…] we can confirm that one death, and not five, took place on festival grounds on March 14.”
The Music Network spoke to Mushroom Group who declined to comment further.
Future Music Festival took in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide this month and kicked off Future Music Asia on Thursday. The festival was expected to draw an estimated 75,000 punters over Thursday, Friday and Saturday (AEST), and was touted as ‘the biggest festival ever held in South East Asia’ with Deadmau5, The Wu-Tang Clan and Armin Van Buuren on the lineup.
Read the full statement, which was later posted on Facebook, from Future Music Festival Asia below:
“This statement is in response to news reported in the media on the 5 alleged deaths associated with FMFA last night.
“As the health and safety of all festival goers are our primary concern, we have lodged an investigation into the media reports. As at 5pm on March 15, we can confirm that one death, and not five, took place on festival grounds on March 14.
“A police report has been filed and we are working very closely with all relevant authorities in examining and determining the cause of this very unfortunate incident.
“FMFA 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 our certified on-site medical doctor and paramedics) prior to and during the event.
“In the interest of public safety we have heeded the authority’s advice to not proceed with Day-3 of Future Music Festival Asia 2014.
“This is also to help in the on-going investigation. We appreciate the understanding of all parties and will share updates on this matter as soon as possible.
“Details of refunds will be announced within one week. Ticket buyers are urged to logon to www.futuremusicfestival.asia for refund details”.
The festival was the third Asia edition for Future Music, who in August last year partnered with Mushroom Group, reinforcing its position against the recently acquired Stereosonic festival.