Malaysian attendees at Djakarta Warehouse Project report police misconduct

The 2024 edition of the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP), held from December 13–15 at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Indonesia, has come under scrutiny following allegations of police misconduct and extortion.

As Indonesia’s largest electronic music festival, this year, DWP attracted 10,000 attendees from 52 countries, featuring international headliners Anyma, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, and Zedd, plus local artists such as Dipha Barus and Whisnu Santika.

Complaints surfaced shortly after the event concluded, particularly from Malaysian attendees, who alleged wrongful detentions and extortion by undercover police officers.

Reports claimed that some attendees were forced to undergo drug tests and, despite negative results, were asked to pay bribes ranging from MYR90,000 - MYR200,000 (around USD20,000 - USD44,000).

A sticker template on Instagram has also been circulating on the platform, urging netizens to share the news of over 400 Malaysian citizens being arrested by police at the event.

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Social media platforms became a hub for criticism, with some attendees expressing dissatisfaction with their experiences. Others cited feelings of insecurity, calling for boycotts of future DWP events unless significant improvements are made.

In response, DWP organisers, Ismaya Live, issued a public statement on December 18, expressing regret over the reported incidents.

“We hear your concerns and deeply regret the challenges and frustrations you experienced. […] We are actively working with the relevant authorities and government bodies to thouroughly investigate what occurred and to ensure concrete measures are implemented to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future,” reads part of the statement.

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They also urged those in need of assistance to contact the Indonesian Police Public Relations Division with any further information.

The Central Jakarta Metro Police, who deployed 450 officers to the event, have denied the allegations. Jamalinus Nababan, Head of the Narcotics Unit, stated that their role was to ensure event security.

“As far as we know, there was no incident where people were detained, extorted, or forced to take urine tests,” Jamalinus told reporters on Thursday, December 19. He also acknowledged that an internal review would be conducted to address the claims.

Via CNN Indonesia & Pikiran Rakyat