KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — A Muslim group has accused the government of jeopardising the future of the country’s youth, after a six drug-related deaths at a three-day music festival over the weekend.
According to media reports, six Malaysians aged between 18 and 28 are suspected to have died after taking a new party drug at The Future Music Festival Asia 2014 held at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil.
“The government has not only encouraged vice activities, but also destroyed the future of the young,” Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) president Uztaz Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman said on the Ismaweb website.
“Therefore, the ministry involved should be asked to come forward and give an explanation and must be punished for the mistakes that occurred under,” he said.
He added that the government should take precautionary measures to ensure that the incident does not repeat itself.
The organisers of the festival said one person died at the festival venue. The rest are believed to have died at hospital or on the way there.
Fourteen people, mainly Singaporeans, were also admitted to hospital after taking the party drug at the festival.
Police arrested 13 Malaysians and 16 foreigners for drug-related offences during the festival.
