PUTRAJAYA, May 11 — Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming isn’t one to mince his words. He’s totally dismissed the idea of cancelling Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Malaysia, set to rock out on November 22 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
According to Nga, everyone from Adele to Taylor Swift is invited to set the stage ablaze in Malaysia, no exceptions.
“It’s more than just a rocking gig, lah,” Nga pointed out. “These concerts boost our economy. That’s why PAS’ old-school mentality doesn’t quite gel with our diverse society.”
Nga had a straightforward suggestion for those not vibing with Coldplay: “If you don’t like them, easy solution – don’t buy the tickets and just shut your eyes.”
He even brought up the King of Pop himself as an example. “If MJ could set Stadium Merdeka on fire back in the day, why should Coldplay be any different?”
Nga’s response came hot on the heels of PAS central working committee member Nasrudin Hassan’s Facebook post, in which he urged for the concert’s cancellation.
Nasrudin seemed quite worked up, accusing the government of wanting to nurture a culture of hedonism and perversion in Malaysia.
“Coldplay isn’t just any rock band, okay?” Nga retorted. “They’ve contributed to Malaysia, like when they sponsored a watercraft to clean up plastic trash from Klang River back in 2019.”
Nga pointed out that Coldplay’s eco-friendly philosophy aligns perfectly with his ministry’s goals. “I’m all about keeping our rivers clean, and they’re helping me do just that.”
To show his appreciation, Nga expressed his wish to treat Coldplay to a veritable feast of local delights upon their arrival in Malaysia. “If they’re game, I’d love to buy them nasi lemak, nasi kerabu from Kelantan, roti canai, and yong tou fu. This way, they can help us promote our local delicacies, especially since 2025 is Visit Malaysia year.”
The minister’s comments were made during a media encounter at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration organised by the Ministry of Local Government Development yesterday.
