UKM Professor Says Those Who Can Afford Concert Tickets Should Not Be Complaining About Inflation

By Lara Kramer  •  22 Jul 2022 in News

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After a long hiatus, gigs and concerts finally made their comeback to Malaysian grounds, with major names such as Billie Eilish and Blackpink and Justin Bieber set to rock local stages.

Malaysian fans were quick to book tickets to catch their favourite artists, which raised a remark from a Professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

The rationale behind his criticism was the fact that Malaysians are currently struggling with soaring food prices and raised living costs, while tickets to live shows are selling out fast.

Prof Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong, who specialises in Ethnolinguistics, Linguistic Anthropology, and Peranakan Phenomenon as well as Nation Building; National Unity and Integration, did acknowledge that everyone is entitled to some fun in their lives.

However, he believes that the purchase of tickets for the newly unveiled 30 Years of Dewa 19 concert set to take place on September 10 has demonstrated that several Malaysians are still oblivious to their needs and desires.

Malaysia Gazette quoted him as saying, “It’s not wrong to have entertainment if you have a lot of money.” In short, it’s a matter of priorities.

He went on to say that if you’re still buying concert tickets when you fully understand you can’t really afford them, you shouldn’t be complaining about rising prices and living costs, and added that Malaysians should be prudent with their money and mind their expenditure especially during difficult times.

Wau Post also noted that the issue is exacerbated by the fact that some locals have used financial aids provided by the government to purchase these tickets.

His statement earned contrasting opinions from netizens, with some in agreement and others arguing that concerts were a “once in a lifetime” affair.

Some also contended that a specific portion of individuals who can afford to splurge on these tickets does not represent the entirety of Malaysia, and therefore the generalisation is not justified.

What do you think? Are sold-out shows an indication that Malaysians are reckless with their money?