Despite findings, cops insist concert deaths caused by drugs

The scene at Bukit Jalil last year, the venue for Future Music Festival Asia 2014, with riot police keeping out the crowd following the concert being cancelled after six people died. – June 1, 2015.

Police are adamant that the deaths of six youths at the Future Music Festival Asia concert in Bukit Jalil in March last year were caused by drugs, despite medical evidence pointing to the contrary.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today insisted that drug overdose still had a role when asked about an exclusive report by The Star on Sunday that the six deaths were caused by heatstroke, and not drugs.

"I don't think I need to comment further. During the incident, we found that drugs were used.

"If the clinical findings say (something else), we accept whatever the finding.

"But the fact still remains that it is caused by drugs," Khalid said at press conference after an event at the Royal Malaysia Police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Khalid said drugs had to be involved as methamphetamines were commonly used as party drugs as they could give users energy to dance and jump.

"From what I read, those who use meth as a stimulant (can have) the energy to dance, jump… that's why they could dance from 10am until 1am," he said.

He added that drug overdose could cause dehydration.

"Whatever you say, the fact still remains that it is caused by the use of drugs."

The Star in its report on Sunday quoted UMMC forensic pathology department head professor Dr K. Nadesan, who said post-mortem results of the six deaths showed that drugs had a negligible role, and the cause of death was actually heatstroke.

Nadesan said the post-mortem reports were issued two months after the deaths but police did not seem interested in correcting the misinformation.

He added that he had sent several detailed reports correcting police statements linking the deaths to drugs.

The six who died after a Future Music Festival Asia concert at the Bukit Jalil Stadium on March 15 last year were Kamal Zekry Kamal Basha, 22; Victor Wong E. Hern, 26; Sabreena Kamaruddin, 21; M. Suresh, 28; Syazana Sohaime, 23; and Nor Faizza Mohd Wazir, 27.

- TMI