Row after Singapore’s Zouk asks top DJ to make way for Malaysian PM’s son
I did what I did to defend my human rights, says Egyptian DJ Fadi after storming out of booth with vow not to return to nightclub where he’s been a regular performer. Angry fans point to club’s purchase by arm of Malaysian leisure giant
Singapore nightclub Zouk has become embroiled in controversy after a well-known international DJ was forced to stop his performance to make way for the son of Malaysia’s prime minister.
DJ Fadi, of Egyptian trance music duo Aly & Fila, was performing at the city-state’s best-known club in the early hours of March 6 when club management told him to stop playing and hand the DJ booth over to Norashman Najib, son of Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.
Fadi, who has made regular appearances at Zouk over the years, took to the microphone to voice his displeasure.
In a video recorded that night, Fadi can be heard saying: “It seems that Zouk wants someone else to play. Not only because of that, because apparently he’s the son of a prime minister. Thank you so much - enjoy my last track, I’ll see you somewhere in the future. Not in Zouk any more, because I won’t play in Zouk any f***ing more. They’ve insulted me, but I love you guys.”
Zouk, which was founded in 1991 by Singaporean entrepreneur Lincoln Cheng, was sold in December 2015 to leisure, entertainment and hospitality company Genting Hong Kong, a part of the Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group. Internet commentators have been quick to point out the links between Genting and the Malaysian government.
READ MORE: Hong Kong’s Genting to take Zouk, Singapore nightclub brand, to ‘next level’
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Zouk blamed the situation on a “misunderstanding” and stated that Fadi “was not at any point of time asked to end his set prematurely before the contracted set end time of 3.30am”.