Association of live events pushes back against religious, political pressure

 

The Arts, Live Festivals and Events Association (ALIFE) has criticised those who call for the cancellation of music events.

ALIFE president Rizal Kamal said the association is prepared to take legal action against unfair treatment and discrimination to promote cultural diversity and provide entertainment.

Determined to safeguard the scene against bureaucratic obstacles and political interference, ALIFE said it wants to ensure that Malaysia can compete with other nations in the entertainment sector.

“ALIFE faces opposition from political and religious groups calling for the cancellation of concerts featuring artists associated with 'sinful' activities or supporting certain communities.

“Calls for such cancellation of acclaimed acts like Blackpink, Billie Eilish, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran highlight this issue.

“ALIFE denounces this targeting, noting the irony when far more controversial and explicit content is easily accessible through digital platforms beyond political control,” said Rizal.

ALIFE president Rizal Kamal

He pointed out that live events are important for Malaysia’s international reputation and economy.

“We have the opportunity to bring much-needed external income into the country through music tourism.

“Our infrastructure, cost structure and value of ringgit make Malaysia an attractive destination for concerts and shows.

“We cannot allow certain groups to derail Malaysia’s effort to be more competitive in the region, especially if it’s just to boost their own individual or political standing,” he added.

Formed in 2016, ALIFE is a non-profit organisation which aims to fight for and protect the rights of event producers, promoters, performance art providers, service providers, venues and all stakeholders.

Eras Tour issue

Previously, analysts estimated that Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour concerts in Singapore from March 2 to 9 would generate about RM1.7 billion in tourism receipts.

Following the success of this tour, Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, has expressed interest in working with Singapore to attract big-ticket concerts.

In Malaysia, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli dismissed claims that the government failed to secure Swift’s Eras Tour despite having talks in 2022.

He said the concert was never offered to Malaysia.

Urging Malaysia to learn from the experience, DAP lawmaker Chong Chieng Jen said that PAS would have opposed Swift holding a concert in Malaysia. - Mkini