Postponement? Jay Chou says football fans should approach organisers

Taiwanese artiste Jay Chou said he is open to postponing his concert scheduled on Jan 15, but urged football fans to approach their sports associations and the stadium’s management on the matter.

This came after many irate football fans posted derisive remarks on the singer’s social media accounts, due to a scheduling conflict between preparations for his concert and the Asean Football Federation Cup (AFF) 2022 semi-finals.

“Malaysian football fans, I know you take football seriously. I can cooperate and postpone, no issues. But the important thing is you should go to your football association or venue organiser whether they would allow me to postpone.

“I have no problems with it, I just want to sing for my fans. I just hope when people come to see my concert, they come with a happy heart,” he said on his Instagram account.

The highly anticipated clash between Malaysia and Thailand football teams is scheduled to take place at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium tomorrow, but 21,000 seats at the stadium would have to be left vacant to make way for installation works for Chou’s (above) concert stage.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said concert organisers had already booked the stadium four years ago, and the situation at the stadium is impossible to change.

Moreover, the predicament will be the same if Malaysia makes it to the finals - scheduled to take place on Jan 16.

In a related development, Yeoh announced 14 locations nationwide where large screens would be set up for football fans to watch the match.

These include Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Laman MBPJ in Petaling Jaya, Dewan Bandaraya Kuantan in Pahang, and Mydin Petrajaya in Sarawak.

She also shot back at Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s call to use her ministerial powers to rectify the situation.

“Ministerial powers cannot be abused,” she told the former deputy youth and sports minister.

On Wan Fayhsal’s suggestion to use other venues such as Axiata Arena to hold non-sporting events, Yeoh pointed out that 45,000 tickets have already been sold for Chou’s concert. In contrast, Axiata Arena has a capacity of only 13,000 people.

“If you want to make a political statement, you’d have to check your facts first,” she said.

Prioritise local sports over foreign artist's concert, Bersatu man tells minister

Volleyball coach who slapped players openly apologises

Ministry to continue probing volleyball coach despite apology - Yeoh

Youth ministry rallying gamers to join survey for policy crafting