MAYHEM's Concert In Malaysia To Be Investigated By Authorities

Malaysian National News Agency Bernama has issued the following report:

A government backbencher Wednesday asked the government to probe into how the black metal MAYHEM music concert, said to be worshipping the devil, were allowed to hold a concert in Backroom, Kuala Lumpur on Feb 4, next year.

Datuk Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu) said the government should view the matter seriously as it seemed that drugs topped the agenda for the musical group from Norway, as depicted in the website: www.shyaithan.com, which provided information on the group.

"The advertisements on the concert have been published in the local papers," he said during question time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.

In reply to the question, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar said even though the authority to permit the group to enter the country does not fall under the ministry's jurisdiction, he would present the matter to the relevant authorities.

"It is not under our jurisdiction but the views on this matter, I will take note and bring it to the relevant authorities," he said.

Meanwhile, in replying to a question from Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) on the steps necessary to curb drug smuggling in the country, Noh said the government had implemented various law enforcement measures related to drug trafficking and abuse.

Noh said besides the hanging sentence, Malaysia also practised the arrest without trial in connection with drug trafficking offences.

This year alone, over 1,000 drug traffickers were arrested without trial while last year, about 2,700 were arrested for similar offences.