Concert organiser says normal to sell tickets before approval

Raaghav Production, which is organising a concert featuring India's singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, said it is normal to begin ticket sales before the time for the event is approved by the authorities.

This was after the Central Agencies Committee for Applications for Filming and Performances by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) clarified that there was no change in time for Raaghav Production's concert as its initially advertised time was never approved, to begin with.

Raaghav Production had announced that its concert slated for August 31 has had its time changed from 7pm to 3pm to observe the Maal Hijrah (Awal Muharram) prayers later in the evening.

"We don't want to magnify Puspal's statement claiming that we had begun selling tickets before an approval was given.

"It is something normal. Last year, we had also started selling tickets before it (time) was approved," Raaghav Production managing direction J Dinesh Kumar told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

Also present was his lawyer P Taneswaran and former minister in the Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany.

Dinesh said normally the requested time would not be rejected but it was different this year.

Puspal said Raaghav Production's requested time was rejected on the advice of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

Puspal added that it subsequently sought to assist Raaghav Production by agreeing to approve the concert at an earlier time.

"It is therefore inappropriate to create a perception that the concert was pushed from 7pm to 3pm on the instruction of Puspal," it had said.

Dinesh said his company respects the Maal Hijrah celebration. and 95 percent of ticket purchasers have indicated they will attend the concert at KLCC Plenary Hall despite the earlier time. - Mkini