Malaysia denies failing to secure Taylor Swift concert despite starting groundwork in 2022

Adam said the concert was never offered to Malaysia, adding that organising concerts were also not under the purview of his ministry.

“Recent reports on the matter are not accurate. The concert in question was never offered to the Malaysian government under a joint contract with Sportswork Group Sdn Bhd and US-based company ASM Global.

“The contract signed in early 2023 was only to support overall venue management,” he said in parliament on Thursday.

The deputy minister was responding to a supplementary question by Kampar MP Chong Zhemin who asked for the ministry’s response to claims that Malaysia failed to seize the opportunity to host A-list celebrities.

Sportswork said Swift’s show was never part of the contract it signed with ASM Global, adding the entertainment industry would have been aware of forthcoming gigs ahead of official announcements.

Reports also said that Swift was being considered by the government after a deal was struck with a US venue management firm in 2022 to renovate Kuala Lumpur Sports City in the capital and turn it into a centre for sports and live entertainment.

The Bersatu party’s legal and constitution bureau deputy chairman Sasha Lyna Abdul Latiff later called for the government to answer for Malaysia’s failure to secure Swift’s highly anticipated Eras Tour in the country.

Lawmaker Chong Chieng Jen urged Malaysia to take a leaf out of Singapore’s playbook to attract international celebrities to the country and boost its tourism sector.

Citing estimates by Maybank economists, Chong said Singapore gained at least US$370 million in economic benefits from Swift’s fans from around the world who flocked to the city state to attend the six-show music extravaganza that ends on Saturday.

02:14

Singapore