Party president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said all programmes must uphold local values, customs, religious sensitivities and norms.

He said Umno took seriously the concerns expressed by the federal territories Islamic religious department and federal territories mufti department, saying they reflect the concerns of a large segment of Malaysians.

“Our principles are clear — entertainment is not wrong, but it must come with limits. Progress must continue, but our values cannot be compromised,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Zahid said organisers should discuss future programmes with the authorities to “preserve community harmony”.

“This is why we have requested that such programmes be reviewed in terms of concept, content and implementation.

“Guidelines also need to be refined and tightened to ensure all events are aligned with our cultural values, religion and national identity,” he said.

The Rain Rave Water Music Festival is taking place from April 30 to May 2 in Bukit Bintang as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

The event has drawn objections from various quarters. Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar said it does not reflect Malaysia’s identity while Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh questioned why it was not shelved under the government’s austerity measures.

Tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing has repeatedly defended the festival, saying similar events such as the Songkran festival organised in Kedah on April 18 were also held on a large scale, with water-based activities involving fire hoses.

He questioned the lack of objection to the event, noting that the Kedah government is led by PAS.

Tiong also said participation was voluntary and denied claims that participants of the water music festival had been told to wear swimsuits or revealing clothing.