KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu has called for the unity government to answer for Malaysia's failure to secure Taylor Swift's highly anticipated Eras Tour in the country.
Its legal and constitution bureau deputy chairman, Sasha Lyna Abdul Latiff, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh must provide an explanation for the missed economic opportunity.
In a statement today (March 6), she claimed that communications were initiated between the Malaysian government and Taylor Swift's concert promoter as far back as 2022.
Despite this, Malaysia was unable to seal the deal, while neighbouring Singapore successfully secured the tour, she said.
Sasha added that the artist has drawn attention not only for her musical prowess but also for her positive influence.
"Even Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation, has sought to host her, emphasising her universal appeal."
She said the economic impact of Swift's tour cannot be overstated and is dubbed a "gold rush."
"The Madani government is under pressure to take proactive steps to secure similar economic opportunities involving renowned performers.
"The lost opportunity to host Taylor Swift's Eras Tour represents a significant setback for Malaysia's economy, particularly amid ongoing challenges," added Sasha.
The Eras Tour is set to conclude in December and is projected to generate a staggering US dollar 4.1 billion (RM19.4 billion) in revenue.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, which Bersatu is part of, has long been known for criticising concert events.
Last year, the party was one of the biggest detractors of the Coldplay concert with its supreme council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan criticising the prime minister for giving a welcome speech to the famous British rock band.
Subsequently, the "kill switch" was also applied during the Coldplay concert after increasing pressure.
After making calls to cancel the Coldplay concert, the coalition attempted to cancel a beauty pageant event hosting Bollywood stars.