FOR the longest time, there has been a buzz about the idea of Sarawak becoming the main hub for international concerts in Malaysia. This is because, in recent years, many international artists have chosen not to stage their concerts in Malaysia due to fears of being criticised by religious authorities on various issues.
One major instance was when the British band, Coldplay, announced that they would hold their concert in Kuala Lumpur this coming November. The announcement did not sit well with some religious figures, including a member of the central working committee of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), Nasrudin Hassan, who questioned whether the federal government encourages hedonism and called for the concert to be cancelled immediately.
According to The Rakyat Post, this is not the first time that PAS has opposed foreign artists in Malaysia, but its call for a ban on concerts by foreign artists has been met with criticism as well. Ainie Haziq, who is the central executive committee member for MUDA, said that PAS should have focused on addressing real issues rather than calling for concert bans.
In June of this year, Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said that Sarawak is ready to host international concerts for Malaysia as long as the organisers and concertgoers adhere to rules and regulations. Last year’s Borneo Music Festival, featuring international disc-jockey (DJ) superstars Allan Walker and DJ Soda, proved that Sarawak could stage concerts by global artists. It received positive reception from members of the public, with some loving the idea, while others expressed some understandable concerns such as infrastructure, international flight connectivity, hospitality, and others.
To understand Sarawak’s aspirations, one should perhaps take a look back at the ups and downs of international concerts in Malaysia and the notable international music festivals in Sarawak.
Ups and downs of international concerts in Malaysia
Although many international artists have made stops in Malaysia during their world tours, it is safe to say that their announcements or performances were often met with much controversy. Back in late 1996, when the late Michael Jackson held his concert in Kuala Lumpur, he was able to perform for two nights but was pressured to adjust his signature crotch grab to something more likeable and agreeable in the eyes of religious authorities who feared it would have a bad effect on youngsters.
Another music superstar, Beyonce Knowles, was scheduled to hold her concert in Malaysia twice, but both met with major backlash due to her “provocative attire.” The first concert that she was supposed to hold was in 2007 from her tour titled “The Beyonce Experience”. According to news reports, it was supposed to mark her first time bringing her show to Malaysia, but she had to cancel it due to a protest by several conservative groups, including the nearly 10,000-strong National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students, urging the then Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage (now Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture) to stop the concert from taking place.
The second concert was in November 1, 2009, from the tour titled “I Am…” but at that time around, she agreed that it would be without some of her usual tricks. However, it was ultimately announced in October 2009 that the concert had been postponed in the wake of accusations by Islamic religious figures that the show would be “immoral and unclean.” At that time, the promoter Marctensia said in a statement that the postponement was solely her decision and had nothing to do with other external reasons. She eventually cancelled her 2009 Malaysia concert, and it was reported that she was banned from ever touring, performing, or even entering the country.
The most recent instance was in March 2023 when Blackpink held their concert in Malaysia, and the show went on as scheduled despite backlash from several religious figures who perceived the concert as a bigger threat. Although some international artists continue to perform in Malaysia, others feel that it would be for the best to skip the country due to the fear of a backlash by some of the conservative figures. Because of that, most Malaysians feel that it is a missed opportunity, as this type of international event not only boosts entertainment tourism in Malaysia but is “an economic lottery” where revenue from ticket sales and flights into the country would pour in and boost the economy.
A brief of PUSPAL’s guidelines and regulations
In 2001, the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artists (PUSPAL) was established, and the purpose of the committee is to coordinate and consider all applications for filming and performance by foreign artists. For international concerts, among the current guidelines that are implemented includes prohibition from performing if artists violate the dress code such as wearing provocative dressing, taking off clothes during their performance, and any other conditions stipulated by the local authority.
In 2023, a new guideline was released by PUSPAL, which includes male foreign artists not being allowed to “show their chest and abdomen during their performances,” and female foreign artists not being allowed to “show their cleavage and wear revealing clothes that expose their body.” There are also restrictions on the use of pyrotechnics and the display of any form of obscenity during the performance.
The guidelines have been criticised by some as being too restrictive and may discourage international artists from performing in Malaysia. However, others argue that the guidelines are necessary to maintain the country’s cultural and religious sensitivities.
International music festivals in Sarawak
Sarawak has been making strides in establishing itself as a hub for international music festivals in recent years. The Rainforest World Music Festival is one of the most significant music festivals in Asia and has been held annually in Kuching since 1998. The festival features a lineup of international and local artists performing a range of traditional and contemporary music styles.
In addition to the Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak also hosts the Borneo Jazz Festival, the Miri Country Music Festival, and the Asia Music Festival. These festivals attract thousands of visitors from around the world and are seen as a significant boost to the state’s tourism industry.
To sum up, while Sarawak has the potential to become a hub for international concerts in Malaysia, it remains to be seen whether the state can overcome some of the challenges that have deterred international artists from performing in the country. Nonetheless, with its track record of successfully hosting international music festivals, Sarawak is well-positioned to become a significant player in the region’s entertainment industry.
