Tiong defends water music festival after backlash from PAS, PKR

Malaysiakini : Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing has defended the Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026, arguing that it is a voluntary public event and should not be made into a controversy. "If anyone feels it is inappropriate, they can simply choose not to participate, but it is not right to deny other people's choices or impose one’s will upon others.

"The views of any political party or individual should not be play ed up into a social issue, let alone a racial and religious issue. Malaysia is a plural society with many races and religions," Tiong (above) said in a statement today. The minister explained that the event is a carefully planned urban tourism project carried out under close supervision, and not an “uncontrolled” or “disorderly” event as described by its critics.

He described the objections raised by certain parties as exaggerated and could potentially mislead the public. Tiong said the event organisers never promoted anything contrary to Malaysia's social values. Instead, the festival promotes the country's cultural diversity, including its food, and traditional arts and crafts. Tiong also rebutted the critics' focus on interactions between different genders.

World Citizen : Apalah, ini tak boleh, itu tak boleh. What kind of cringes are these people! This kind of festivals are good to promote KL and Malaysia. We are not Afghanistan lah hoi. If you don’t like it, don’t attend and don’t even bother with anything. 

Just stay home ok! Millions of Malaysians like it. About road closures, this happens during late night to early morning, so what is the problem here Mr. PKR? By the way, PAS, you will get a lot of non Malays votes next GE. Keep up with your nonsense.

apanama is back : It looks like once these two fellows had been brainwashed and indoctrinated, both confirmed to be zombified. That is why they spewed nonsense such as: 

1) "At a time when the world is witnessing mass killings, oppression, and prolonged suffering in West Asia, specifically in Palestine, holding a large-scale entertainment event like this is a betrayal of humanity and the solidarity of the ummah." 

What an idiotic statement. If there is war, we stop entertainment. If you do not want to join, keep away. You can join the West Asia and keep fighting while I celebrate back here. The world does not stop rotating due to conflict somewhere. 

2)" Anwar also stressed that large-scale entertainment events running late into the night do not take into account the sensitivities of Islam as the religion of the Federation above is another 'bangang' statement, twisting the religion of the Federation's own agenda. PKR need to be kicked out since it tries to be more PAS than PAS itself.

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