KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said tourist arrivals in Malaysia continue to grow despite the Middle East conflict.

Tiong said this during a press conference with local media following the launch of the Rain Rave Water Music Festival (RRWMF) at Bukit Bintang last night.

“Up until today, our tourist numbers continue to grow, thank God for helping us.

“Although there is a dip in tourists from the Middle East, there is a slight increase in the number of tourists coming from Asian and European countries,” Tiong said.

He added that the decline in tourist numbers from the Middle East is due to the current US-Israel conflict with Iran, which is contributing to a global energy crisis.

Apart from that, Tiong also said that in light of the current economic situation, the RRWMF programme is one of the ways to further spur local economic growth, while dismissing critics who called the three-day music festival a waste of resources.

“We have conducted thorough calculations and internal discussions; this is far from a waste of resources,” Tiong clarified.

“Without initiatives like this, tourist arrivals would likely dwindle. Furthermore, these programmes provide vital business opportunities for the B40 community. How can we expect to revitalise our economy if we do not create these platforms?”

“We must help them but at the same time, whichever areas we can save, we save, and whichever need a bit of push, we can run programmes — this is to help stabilise the local economy,” he added.

The three-day RRWMF runs from April 30 to May 2 and is held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, which aims to attract 43 million visitors to the country.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — The opening of the Rain Rave Water Music Festival (RRWMF), held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, saw a massive turnout with over 7,000 attendees gathered in the heart of the city.

KL police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus told local media that the number was expected to swell past the 10,000 mark by midnight.

“The atmosphere is incredibly vibrant, and we anticipate this momentum to continue through tomorrow afternoon, which will conclude on May 2.

“My officers are stationed throughout the venue. We are committed to ensuring this programme runs smoothly and safely,” he said last night when met by reporters. 

He added that 500 officers and personnel, including reinforcements from Bukit Aman and all district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, were deployed for the opening night alone.

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the three-day music festival has transformed the streets of Bukit Bintang into a massive, high-energy wet dance floor.

In light of that, Fadil reminded the public to pay close attention to official traffic updates and to plan their journeys accordingly, as numerous roads in the area are currently closed.

He also issued a firm reminder about social conduct, warning against drug use and any immoral behaviour at the event.

“Numerous roads are currently closed. Please pay close attention to official traffic notices and plan your journeys accordingly to avoid congestion.

“To those visiting, I want to emphasise: please prioritise your safety. Ensure there is no involvement with drugs or any immoral behaviour,” he said.