By Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's concert and live events industry is well-positioned to strengthen the country’s standing as a leading entertainment tourism destination in Southeast Asia, supported by efficient management and competitive tax policies.
Malaysian Association for Arts, Live Events, Concerts and Festivals (ALIFE) senior advisor Rizal Kamal said realising this potential requires a balanced approach that combines effective management and infrastructure improvements to deliver sustainable economic benefits across various sectors.
“Malaysia now has the potential to emerge as a leading concert and touring hub in Southeast Asia. Local artistes are currently subject to a zero per cent entertainment tax rate in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, while the rate for international artistes is 10 per cent,” he said.
Speaking on Bernama TV's Fokus 15 programme, Rizal said the continuity of government policies until 2028, coupled with the one-stop service provided by the Unit for Application for Foreign Filming and Performance by Foreign Artiste (PUSPAL), had generated strong momentum in Malaysia's concert and live events industry.
Highlighting the broader economic impact, he said the influx of international tourists generated substantial economic benefits that extended beyond ticket sales.
“The economic benefits extend to the hospitality industry, food and beverage businesses, public transport services and shopping malls, while also creating opportunities for local vendors,” he said.
On regional competitiveness, Rizal said Kuala Lumpur had an edge over other Southeast Asian cities, offering more competitive costs for organising concerts and live events.
Despite the positive developments, he said the shortage of dedicated concert and event venues with capacities ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 spectators remained a key challenge.
“To maintain international standards, close collaboration between event organisers and venue management is essential to improve basic facilities, including toilets, and ensure the smooth entry and exit of spectators,” he said.
On traffic congestion during major events, he said measures were being developed to address the issue following engagement sessions with relevant ministries, the police, local authorities and public transport operators.
Rizal also said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh had recently held discussions with representatives from more than 20 organisations, concert promoters and relevant authorities on improving entry and exit arrangements for concertgoers.
“This is to prevent a recurrence of the severe traffic congestion experienced recently when two major concerts ended at the same time late at night,” he said.
On public safety, Rizal stressed that the safety and well-being of concertgoers must never be compromised, urging promoters to strictly observe venue capacity limits to minimise risks.
He also encouraged the adoption of digital ticketing systems and artificial intelligence (AI) to help combat ticket fraud and curb ticket scalping.
--BERNAMA