Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has questioned what he described as inconsistent criticism from certain quarters regarding the Rain Rave Water Music Festival held in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
He pointed to a similar water-related celebration, the Songkran Festival held in Kedah on April 18, which also featured large-scale activities involving water splashing and the use of fire hoses. He raised concerns over why comparable events did not receive similar backlash.
“I want to ask, why were there no objections when this happened in Kedah? Isn’t the Kedah state government led by PAS?” he said, adding that the issue should not be politicised.
Tiong also questioned why there were no demands for accountability in that instance, suggesting that the differing reactions reflected selective political scrutiny rather than consistent principles.
The Rain Rave Water Music Festival has drawn criticism from several parties, including Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar, who said the event does not reflect Malaysian identity. Meanwhile, UMNO Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh questioned the timing of the event, citing government austerity measures.
The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department director Hanifuddin Rosan also expressed concern, saying the festival could potentially lead to moral issues and undermine social values, while emphasising that entertainment is permissible in Islam if it adheres to syarak guidelines.
The festival, running from May 1 to May 2 in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, is jointly organised by Tourism Malaysia and The Fame, a brand innovation company. The three-day event features international DJs alongside local artistes including Joe Flizzow, Dolla, De Fam and Mimifly.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said about 500 personnel have been deployed to ensure public safety and manage traffic throughout the event. He also reminded attendees to avoid illegal activities, including drug use and any immoral behaviour.
