Abroad
4 dead after attending New Year's Eve countdown concert in M'sia
Police have yet to determine the cause of death.
January 02, 2025, 05:03 PM
Festivities at the New Year's Eve countdown concert held at Sunway Lagoon in Selangor, Malaysia, were marred when four attendees were later found dead.
Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said that a hospital in Kuala Lumpur reported the deaths of four Malaysians who had attended the Pinkfish 2024 Countdown concert, according to Malaysian media.
The victims were in their 20s to 40s.
Hussein said that all four victims were found to have attended the Pinkfish concert held at Sunway Lagoon’s Surf Beach on Dec. 31.
He noted that the cases have been classified as sudden death, with the cause of death to be determined pending laboratory investigations.
No signs of external injuries were found on the deceased during the initial autopsy, Hussein added.
Person seen being wheeled away on gurney
The Selangor police said in a Jan. 1 statement on their Facebook page that investigations are ongoing to determine if there was any foul play or toxic substances involved.
They are also appealing for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.
A TikTok video taken during the concert showed medical personnel wheeling a body away on a gurney covered by a sheet.
Some users in the comment section surmised that the person may have suffered from an overdose.
@cherryblosssom02 Pinkfish problem #pinkfish #fyp ♬ original sound - Nobody
Deaths occurred outside event venue: Organiser
The Pinkfish event management shared a statement on social media on Jan. 2, offering its condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident following Pinkfish Countdown 2024 which resulted in the loss of four lives."
The organiser noted that Malaysian police had confirmed that the deaths occurred outside the event's premises.
Additionally, the organiser said that precautions had been taken to ensure the safety of the event, with more than 100 police officers stationed there and trained security personnel and police dog units deployed to entrance points.
It added that it is fully committed to cooperating with the authorities in their investigations.
Background
Pinkfish, an outdoor music and arts festival in Malaysia, celebrates creativity, expression, and community.
The concert on Dec. 31 featured live music acts from local and international artists.
Top image from pinkfishfestival/Instagram
