Community groups oppose private foam party in Miri; state minister demands council impose stricter controls
MIRI: A proposed New Year’s Eve foam party in the city, here, has triggered significant pushback from community organisations, prompting Sarawak’s tourism minister to demand stricter regulatory oversight of the private event.
State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today called on the Miri City Council and enforcement authorities to exercise rigorous control over the planned celebration.
The countdown celebration, being organised by private non-governmental groups rather than government bodies, has drawn objections from a coalition of community associations concerned about the nature of activities that may occur.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuching following a separate event, Abdul Karim emphasised that government authorities bear responsibility for safeguarding broader community interests, regardless of the event’s private status.
“The proposed foam party in Miri has met with strong objections from several community organisations,” he stated.
The minister stressed that while the event is privately organised, officials have an obligation to protect public sensitivities and community values.
“Since there are strong objections, we have called for stricter scrutiny to protect the interests and sensitivities of the general public,” Abdul Karim explained.
He indicated that the Miri City Council has already engaged with event organizers and will implement enhanced controls regarding permissible activities.
A coalition comprising the Miri Kedayan Association, Miri Malay Association, Malaysian Welfare and Islamic Dakwah Association Miri, and several other concerned organizations has publicly opposed the foam party scheduled for a location near the city centre.
These groups issued a formal notice protesting the event, expressing concerns that such celebrations are incompatible with local cultural values and could negatively influence young people.
The associations have specifically requested that local authorities intervene to prevent the foam party from proceeding.
The objecting organisations argue that public foam parties represent an imported entertainment concept foreign to the region’s established cultural traditions.
Their concerns reflect broader debates about maintaining cultural identity while accommodating diverse forms of entertainment and celebration in Malaysian society.
The groups worry that such events may normalise activities they view as inconsistent with local norms and values, particularly regarding public behaviour and youth exposure.
According to the minister, discussions between the Miri City Council and event organisers are ongoing, with authorities working to establish clear boundaries for what activities will be permitted should the event proceed.
This regulatory approach aims to balance the right to organise private celebrations with community concerns about cultural appropriateness and public order.
The council’s intervention demonstrates how local authorities navigate competing interests when entertainment concepts generate controversy due to cultural or religious sensitivities.
