He said the decision was made following discussions with Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Md Nor during a recent state executive council meeting.

“I presented the issue at the meeting and the decision made by the state government is to prohibit and not allow any open-air concerts in Kedah.

“Some claim the state government does not allow any kind of programmes to be organised.

“Don’t misunderstand this. There is no problem if you want to conduct a programme, but if you want to have an open-air concert as part of the programme, that is not allowed,” he said after officiating the state-level National Sports Day here today.

Firdaus, who is the state tourism, arts and culture, youth and sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman, was asked about the outcome of his discussions with Sanusi on the ban on concerts.

“All district officials already know the standard operating procedures that have been set.

“Not everything is prohibited. For example, nasyid concerts, busking or programmes conducted in halls or in private can still be considered by district officials,” Firdaus said.

Sanusi had previously said that any entertainment concert which encouraged unethical behaviour would not be allowed in Kedah.

This followed the spread of a video recording of a musical performance near the Kedah State Art Gallery, which eventually led the crowd to start dancing, creating uneasiness among the community as the venue was not far from the Zahir mosque.