Event Organisation Says Political Protests Left A "Sour Note" With International Artistes
"These protests have proven to directly impact our international business environment and reputation."
By Aqasha Nalani — 21 Jun 2023, 04:26 PM
The Arts, Live Festival, and Events Association (Alife Malaysia) recently issued a statement explaining the potential reasons why Coldplay will not be adding extra dates to the Malaysia leg of their tour
According to the association, which represents the events industry, one of the main reasons why the British band added more dates in Singapore rather than Malaysia is because of protests led by political groups.
"Although there are many reasons, one key issue is the protests from political groups, which left a sour note with the artiste, organiser, and especially international concertgoers," read the statement.
Alife Malaysia also stated that if the six shows were to be held in Malaysia, they could have boosted the Malaysian economy
It added that concerts from international acts could bring in millions of ringgit and benefit various industries, including hotels, transportation, food and beverage, and retail.
"These protests have proven to directly impact our international business environment and reputation. We urge the government, media, and people to protect our businesses, and not allow particular groups to dictate what the majority of Malaysians want for our country," it wrote.
The organisation went on to congratulate Coldplay for a sold-out six-day show in Singapore.
"It is a true testament and example of various government and private bodies working cohesively for economic benefit, job creation, and tourism. We hope that Malaysia will be able to emulate these good practices one day," read the conclusion of the statement.
In May, a PAS leader urged the government to cancel Coldplay's concert in Malaysia, citing that the performance will not bring any benefit to the country and the rakyat
PAS central working committee member Nasrudin Hassan made the statement on Wednesday, 10 May, while replying to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's tweet that welcomed the British band to Malaysia.
Elaborating his view on Facebook, he asked whether the government is trying to spread hedonism and deviant cultures.
"Does the government want to nurture hedonism and deviant cultures in this country? I advise you to just cancel this group's performance in Malaysia. It brings nothing good to the religion, people, and country," said the leader of the Islamist party.
Nasrudin also used photos of Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, carrying a rainbow flag at a concert to further solidify his points:
