KUALA LUMPUR: Evergreen veteran singer Datuk Khadijah Ibrahim, 65, has suggested that veteran singers be paid at least RM10,000 for each show, in line with their experience and talents.
Khadijah said in a Berita Harian report today that it was "grossly unfair" for concert organisers to pay music legends who were once household names paltry sums for their performances.
"Veteran artistes should be treated with respect, they have done a lot for the music industry of the nation.
"If I were the manager of a veteran artiste I would advice him or her not to perform in an event if the organiser pays RM200 to RM300," said Khadijah.
"If I were given token payments of RM5,000 to RM8,000, I'd be okay with it. But RM200 to RM300 is pitifully low!"
Khadijah said that with rising costs of living, concert organisers ought to pay artistes, especially legends, much more than before.
"If concert organisers can pay millions of ringgit for foreign acts to perform in Malaysia, I don't see why they cannot pay RM10,000 to Malaysian music legends."
Khadijah said that she was fortunate to have been "paid well" to date, but many of her contemporaries were not so lucky.
Khadijah recently performed at the Petaling Jaya City Council's (MBPJ) Konsert Malam Muzikal 2024 in conjunction with the city's 18th anniversary.
The other artistes at the event held at MBPJ's Civic Centre in Jalan Yoong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya were Datin Effa Rizan and Datuk Malek Ridzuan.