IT’S a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the other hand is doing. We already have a one-stop agency known as Puspal for the applications for filming and performance by foreign artists.
The panel, which comes under the purview of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, comprises representatives from the respective bodies.
So, the last thing the music tourism industry needs is more bureaucracy to make it even more difficult to get their permits approved.
Out of the blue, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has said that approvals that had been given to concerts in Kuala Lumpur will be reviewed to ensure their suitability to the people.
He said the ministry had received complaints from the public that certain concerts did not contribute to youth development.
Now, that is a vague reasoning. Concerts to most of us are purely for entertainment value, so we really do not know what the Minister is thinking.
This is disturbing because it comes after the call by PAS to stop concerts featuring international artistes.
The party also asked for Jakim, the Islamic Development Department, to be given a bigger role to play within Puspal to stem performances, which it deemed not Islamic.
This is surely bad news for show promoters as they have just started to promote Malaysia as a destination for music tourism after a two-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It also runs contrary to the Tourism Ministry efforts to push Malaysia as a gateway to revive the nation’s tourism industry.
In July, it said the Ministry was supporting all concerts, local and foreign, being held here because the artistes will bring along their followers.
As an example, South Indian composer and singer R. Anirudh will see several chartered flights from India and Singapore to KL to watch his “Once Upon A Time” concert.
Indonesia’s Lords of Rock, Dewa 19, will be performing at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, KL, and a massive crowd, including those from other Asean nations, is expected.
It has been estimated by statista.com that the revenue in the music events segment is projected to reach USD30.68mil (RM139mil) in 2022 and that does not include the spillover effects to the hotel, restaurant, and airlines sectors.
It is highly regrettable that a few of our politicians do not understand the negative impact of their statements as it will send the wrong signals and narrative.
Our rival neighbours will only be happy to take over hosting by telling these prized acts that they are not welcome in Malaysia.
Even Saudi Arabia, a conservative country, has opened and pledged to stage ‘’600 per cent more concerts from this year’’ and over the past few years, before the pandemic, BTS, Justin Bieber, Salman Khan and Pitbull have all performed there.
Rave parties featuring international deejays have performed in Riyadh to thousands of locals and foreigners. Even men and women are allowed to mix and dance.
In Jakarta, the biggest K-pop concert dubbed KPOP LAND 2022 will be staged on Sept 16, where thousands of people will watch it at the Stadium Madya Senayan.
Something is terribly wrong when PAS Youth leader Ahmad Fadhli Shaari equates concerts to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and hedonism, and some of our leaders actually take what he has said seriously.
How he can derive such a perception is beyond the comprehension of level-headed Malaysians. He needs help, seriously.
If Shahidan, rightly or wrongly, heeds his complaint, what about the support of the majority of Malaysians for such concerts? Surely, the voices of moderate Malaysians count?
It won’t be wrong to say more toxicity comes out from some political gatherings than concerts, really. Now, these divisive political meetings for sure are bad for youth development.
