Explain why we fail to secure money-making Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert, Bersatu's Sasha Lyna to Anwar, Hannah

SHAH ALAM - Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is calling for an explanation from the government regarding the missed opportunity to host Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour.

Legal and Constitution Bureau Deputy Chairman Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to clarify the situation.

"Reports suggest the Malaysian government, under the previous administration, had initial communication with Swift's concert promoter.

"We need to understand why this opportunity wasn't pursued, especially considering Singapore's success in securing the tour," Sasha said in a statement today.

The Eras Tour is projected to be the highest-grossing music tour ever, with an expected revenue of US$4.1 billion in Singapore alone.

Sasha highlighted the potential economic benefits Malaysia could have enjoyed, including increased revenue for tourism, hospitality, and merchandise sectors.

She noted that even Muslim-majority Indonesia expressed interest in hosting the tour, stressing Swift's status as a positive global icon.

Sasha further questioned the current government's actions.

"Did the Madani government make any efforts to secure the tour?"

"The public deserves an explanation, particularly considering Singapore's proactive approach," she stressed.

The statement suggested the previous government, under former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, had authorised talks with the concert promoter.

It also mentioned plans to develop Kuala Lumpur Sports City as a major entertainment hub.

Sasha also pointed out the potential economic benefits the concert could have brought, particularly in light of the current economic climate.

Swift is currently partway through six sold-out shows in Singapore, her only stop in Southeast Asia.

It was reported that Malaysia had the American pop star in its grasp in 2022, but lost her to Singapore a year later.

She was on the Malaysian government’s radar after it signed a contract with a US venue management company in 2022 to make Kuala Lumpur Sports City in Bukit Jalil a magnet for sports and live entertainment.

However, the deal was not capitalised on when Anwar became prime minister after the 15th general election, and the American company was reportedly reduced to a consultant’s role for the optimisation of Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

On Tuesday, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the incentive provided to Swift to make Singapore the only Southeast Asian stop on her world tour was not a hostile act towards its neighbours.

The city-state previously said it had given Swift a grant to play there, without mentioning the terms of the deal – an announcement that annoyed other countries, with the Thai prime minister saying the grant was made on condition that Singapore would be Swift’s only stop in Southeast Asia.