KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia missed the chance to host major international concerts, including a possible Taylor Swift show, following changes to a strategic partnership involving ASM Global after a change in government, according to former Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
The Bersatu vice president, also known as Peja, claimed the original arrangement with ASM Global — linked to global events giant AEG International — was designed to position Malaysia as a regional hub for large-scale entertainment events.
“We’ve signed a contract with ASM Global which is also a facility operator for AEG International. AEG International is the biggest event organiser in the whole wide world. And they have their list of artists under them, including Taylor Swift,” he said during a recent episode of the Trick Lama podcast hosted by Editor-in-Chief Terence Fernandez, Big Boom Media Executive Director Datuk “Rocky” Ahiruddin Attan, and Big Boom Media CEO Datuk Zainul Arifin Mohammed Isa.
Faizal said the partnership had the potential to attract top-tier international performers to Malaysia’s venues but did not progress as initially planned following a shift in political leadership.
“So, when the Ministry of Youth and Sports was taken over by Hannah Yeoh, she met ASM Global,” he said, adding that ASM was initially offered a consultancy role.
Watch part one of the Trick Lama podcast below:
He further suggested that the revised scope of the agreement reduced ASM Global’s operational involvement, which he believed led to dissatisfaction on their part.
“So, ASM Global felt like who do you think we are? Sort of thing. Do you want me to just take care of the parking?” he added.
Faizal claimed that following the change, Malaysia failed to secure major international acts, losing ground to regional competitors.
“After that contract, they didn’t do it. So, they didn’t try to bring in all the A-list artists in Malaysia,” he said.
He contrasted Malaysia’s position with Singapore, which he said successfully secured major concerts through similar global partnerships.
“When Singapore saw this, they immediately got AEG to bring in Taylor Swift,” he added.
Faizal argued that the missed opportunity resulted in both economic and tourism losses, with international fans and revenue flowing to neighbouring countries instead.
He maintained that the original intention was for Malaysia to emerge as a regional entertainment hub, supported by its sports and event infrastructure.
“At that time, they wanted us to become the hub because our complex is a sports city,” he said.
Earlier in 2024, advisory firm Sportswork Group Sdn Bhd disputed claims that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour had ever been offered to the Malaysian government under the joint ASM-Sportswork-PSM arrangement.
“Sportswork would like to clarify that selected statements in the article ‘Malaysia had Taylor Swift in its grip and did nothing’ published on Free Malaysia Today on March 5 are inaccurate,” the company said in a statement on March 6, 2024.
It added that the joint agreement involving ASM Global and the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM), signed in early 2023, was intended for venue management support rather than securing specific artists or tour bookings. – June 26, 2026