Welcoming the targeted approach as more practical, LOL Asia CEO Rizal Kamal said organisers lacked the expertise and authority to manage such procedures.

“It has to be done by the authorities, especially those from drug enforcement,” he told FMT.

“Our recommendation is to have narcotics stand by at high-risk events for urine tests and other duties.”

Rizal said the issue was not the cost, but ensuring that trained personnel were available to follow proper protocol.

“What if (the) urine (test) is positive? What action can the organiser take? How do we ensure that it’s taken the correct way?” he asked.

Ng Suee Lim, Selangor’s local government and tourism committee chairman, recently said that the state might implement urine tests and scanning machines at concerts following four drug-related fatalities at the Pinkfish New Year’s Eve concert.

Ng later clarified that such tests before admission would only apply to individuals who raised suspicions, and that the SOP for concert entries would remain unchanged.

Livescape CEO Iqbal Ameer nevertheless questioned how pre-admission testing would resolve the issue of drug use inside the venue.

He said measures such as public education campaigns on drug penalties and effects, and the deployment of trained security and police personnel, would still be necessary during the event.

“These solutions are straightforward and can be achieved by working directly with event organisers.

“Safety should be a collective responsibility, not an added burden on one party,” he said.

Iqbal also called for regular, transparent collaboration between government bodies and the private sector to ensure shared objectives in concert safety.

“What we need is confidence in a partnership that prioritises safety while allowing the industry to thrive, not the threat of losing our livelihoods,” he said.