KUALA LUMPUR: The government will enact new legislation to monitor and control activities pertaining to ticket scalpers through online and offline transactions.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the enactment of the Act will also follow the United States and Australian model relating to ticket scams in the countries.
"At the moment, Malaysia does not have a law pertaining to ticket scalpers, hence, we will scrutinise the matter with other ministries that may have activities involving online ticket sales.
"We will look at the legal provisions that need to be established (to enact the Act) in order to curb the issue of ticket scalpers in the future," he said in a joint press conference with Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub in Parliament, today.
The government last week said it would look into the issue of scalpers reselling tickets at exorbitant prices, following tickets for British rock band Coldplay's first-ever concert in Malaysia being resold at exorbitant prices.
The highly-anticipated concert dubbed "Coldplay: Music Of The Spheres World Tour" has seven ticket price categories priced at RM228; RM398; RM498; RM598; RM658; RM758 and RM1,288.
However, scalpers have since gone online to offer the tickets at sky-high prices, some at even five times the original cost.
Meanwhile, Fahmi added that the new Act would be enacted once the investigation into the Coldplay copncert ticket issue is completed.
He said that the results from the investigation would present a clearer picture to help draf the Act, aside from carrying out necessary discussions with relevant agencies and ministries.
"We also need to examine the ticket sales concept with a comprehensive understanding (of what it entails) after the discussion. This is also because a bulk purchase of tickets does happen, but not in the context of ticket scalpers."
At the same time, Salahuddin said the ministry has so far received 28 unofficial complaints on the resale of Coldplay tickets through social media platforms.
He also urged Coldplay ticket buyers to lodge official reports with the ministry if they were victims of fraud.
"If you have the evidence, come to us and we will investigate (the issue). This is as the e-tickets have yet to be issued and it is definitely a fraud if the seller claims to have the ticket."