KUALA LUMPUR: Singer Aisha Retno expressed shock and disappointment over the sudden cancellation of her Malam Sutera Aisha Retno concert, originally scheduled to be held at Zepp KL, as announced by the event organiser, Kharisma Music International.
In a recent video statement shared on Instagram, Aisha revealed that she was first informed about the cancellation through the organiser's social media announcement.
According to her, communication with Kharisma Music International had been minimal, with the company not responding to her inquiries for months.
"I was completely in the dark about the concert's status. I reached out to the organisers multiple times, but received no response.
"The abrupt cancellation and the reasons given by the organisers came as a shock to me and my team," she said.
Aisha expressed her disappointment but accepted the situation as fate, saying, "Maybe it wasn't meant to be, and I accept that with an open heart."
"However, it's upsetting to find out the reasons only through a public announcement rather than through direct communication."
Initially, Aisha was hesitant to take on the concert, recognising her limited experience in the industry. However, the organisers reassured her, and she eventually embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm, hoping to make it her first solo performance.
"I told the organisers that I'm still relatively new to the industry.
"I have a lot to learn and am still building my music portfolio. But they assured me, and I took it as a challenge, excited to deliver my best," she said.
Aisha added that the cancellation has affected her professional plans as well.
"This concert required me to decline several events and festivals to meet the terms of the agreement," she explained.
"My original plan was to take a break after performing at major events like Anugerah Juara Lagu and The Hardest Singing Show, and focus on smaller showcases instead," she said.
Aisha also mentioned financial and marketing responsibilities that she believes should have been handled by the organiser.
"The planning and promotions should have been their responsibility, but they shifted these tasks onto me. When the cancellation statement was released, it felt like they were trying to place the blame on me."
Aisha added that she's open to discussing the matter with the organisers, but communication remains absent.
She ended the session by apologising to fans and ticket buyers for the unforeseen cancellation.
"I hope future events go smoothly and apologise to everyone who looked forward to the concert."