KUCHING, March 7: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen holds that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leaders who criticise the government for their failure to attract American singer and superstar Taylor Swift to hold a concert in Malaysia should redirect their criticism and questions towards Parti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS).
Chong said that it was ironic that there were some Bersatu leaders who expressed regret that Swift chose to hold her shows as part of her world tour in Singapore instead of Malaysia.
“Look at what your friends in PAS are doing to musicians and international stars like Coldplay and Black Pink. They insisted on canceling the concerts at the last minute and tried to control how celebrities dress and what these celebrities can say,” said Chong when debating on the King’s speech in Parliament today.
He also slammed that the government’s strategy of using the “kill-switch” mechanism to control performances on stage.
“If a celebrity acts inappropriately on stage, let the fans judge. There is no point in the government’s ‘kill-switch’ and the cutting off electricity during concerts,” said Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman.
He reasoned that there were worse and more obscene material on the internet reachable by all 33 million Malaysians.
Even if Singapore did not get the exclusive rights to host Swift’s concert, Chong doubted whether she would choose Malaysia as her next venue due to Opposition leaders’ hostility toward international artists and Malaysia’s “restrictive environment”.
“With all these restrictions and the potential risk of last-minute cancellations, international A-list celebrities will be reluctant to perform in Malaysia,” said Chong who predicted that if Swift were to perform in Bukit Jalil, the way she would dress on stage will definitely become another obsession for PAS leaders to criticise and condemn.
Singapore has become the only Southeast Asian country included in Taylor Swift’s world tour, reportedly generating at least US$370 million in revenue for the city-state. — DayakDaily
