04/05/2026
๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ : ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐
๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ | ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐
DAPSY National Chairman, YB Woo Kah Leong commended the recent water music festivals held across Malaysia, particularly the Rain Rave Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur, for their resounding success in enhancing the countryโs international image and injecting fresh momentum into the tourism sector.
Woo stressed that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) should seize this opportunity to further develop the โconcert economyโ model to ensure Malaysia secures a strong position in the global entertainment tourism landscape, instead of ceding ground to neighbouring countries.
Leverage Trends to Develop Entertainment Economy
Woo, who is also a Perak EXCO member, pointed out that although neighbouring countries such as Singapore have taken an early lead in the concert economy, including securing exclusive performance arrangements with international artists, Malaysia still possesses unique competitive advantages that cannot be easily replicated.
He noted that Malaysiaโs relatively lower venue rental and labour costs are highly attractive to international event organisers. For foreign tourists, accommodation and transportation in Malaysia are both affordable and convenient, complemented by a food culture widely regarded as among the best in Asia. These factors position Malaysia as a prime destination for regional entertainment tourism.
Criticizing Akmal Saleh and PN for Being โTourism Repellentsโ
At the same time, Woo also criticised UMNO Youth Chief Akmal Saleh and Perikatan Nasional (PN) for failing to offer any constructive suggestions to support small tourism businesses, and instead acting as โtourism repellentsโ during the crucial lead-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
โWe do not need advice from a failed PN administration that turned Langkawiโs tourism sector into a โghost townโ, nor do we need to entertain the unreasonable antics of a particular Melaka EXCO member who practises double standards. What Malaysia needs most are โTourism Ambassadorsโ who can attract a steady flow of visitors, instead of โTourism Repellentsโ like Akmal and PN leaders who constantly undermine efforts with extreme remarks that repel foreign tourists,โ he said.
Kuala Lumpurโs Strength Lies in Diversity and Openness
Responding to recent criticisms from conservative groups against entertainment activities, Woo said PN may prefer the states they govern to be quiet and monotonous, but people living in the Klang Valley understand that Kuala Lumpurโs appeal lies in its diversity and inclusiveness.
โKuala Lumpur is renowned for its openness and diversity. People of different faiths coexist with mutual respect while experiencing various cultures. It is no doubt a vibrant, international, pluralistic, and thriving city.โ
Support Small Businessesโ Effort to Improve Livelihoods
Woo added that Kuala Lumpur residents prioritise improving their livelihoods through economic activities. Therefore, entertainment events are welcomed and supported, so long as they do not incite crime or disrupt public order, such as illegal street racing.
Given that many small businesses in Kuala Lumpur are eager to leverage Visit Malaysia 2026 to increase their income and elevate the cityโs global profile, such aspirations to improve livelihoods through legitimate economic means are entirely reasonable and should be fully supported by the government.
โThis is not a PN-governed state, and thus we will not see farcical incidents like in Melaka, where DJ performances at a water music festival were cancelled due to interference by some PN-linked agents.โ
Woo concluded by calling on the โTourism Repellent Ambassadorsโ to continue imposing bans and cancelling events in their own states, effectively diverting more tourists to non-PN states. This will allow businesses and communities operating in more open and progressive states to benefit from the economic gains of Visit Malaysia 2026.
(Press Statement by DAPSY National Chairman, YB Woo Kah Leong on 4 May 2026)
Woo Kah Leong: Water Music Festival Showcases Malaysiaโs Diversity
DAPSY Urges MOTAC to Promote Concert Economy to Stay Competitive
DAPSY National Chairman, YB Woo Kah Leong commended the recent water music festivals held across Malaysia, particularly the Rain Rave Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur, for their resounding success in enhancing the countryโs international image and injecting fresh momentum into the tourism sector.
Woo stressed that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) should seize this opportunity to further develop the โconcert economyโ model to ensure Malaysia secures a strong position in the global entertainment tourism landscape, instead of ceding ground to neighbouring countries.
Leverage Trends to Develop Entertainment Economy
Woo, who is also a Perak EXCO member, pointed out that although neighbouring countries such as Singapore have taken an early lead in the concert economy, including securing exclusive performance arrangements with international artists, Malaysia still possesses unique competitive advantages that cannot be easily replicated.
He noted that Malaysiaโs relatively lower venue rental and labour costs are highly attractive to international event organisers. For foreign tourists, accommodation and transportation in Malaysia are both affordable and convenient, complemented by a food culture widely regarded as among the best in Asia. These factors position Malaysia as a prime destination for regional entertainment tourism.
Criticizing Akmal Saleh and PN for Being โTourism Repellentsโ
At the same time, Woo also criticised UMNO Youth Chief Akmal Saleh and Perikatan Nasional (PN) for failing to offer any constructive suggestions to support small tourism businesses, and instead acting as โtourism repellentsโ during the crucial lead-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
โWe do not need advice from a failed PN administration that turned Langkawiโs tourism sector into a โghost townโ, nor do we need to entertain the unreasonable antics of a particular Melaka EXCO member who practises double standards. What Malaysia needs most are โTourism Ambassadorsโ who can attract a steady flow of visitors, instead of โTourism Repellentsโ like Akmal and PN leaders who constantly undermine efforts with extreme remarks that repel foreign tourists,โ he said.
Kuala Lumpurโs Strength Lies in Diversity and Openness
Responding to recent criticisms from conservative groups against entertainment activities, Woo said PN may prefer the states they govern to be quiet and monotonous, but people living in the Klang Valley understand that Kuala Lumpurโs appeal lies in its diversity and inclusiveness.
โKuala Lumpur is renowned for its openness and diversity. People of different faiths coexist with mutual respect while experiencing various cultures. It is no doubt a vibrant, international, pluralistic, and thriving city.โ
Support Small Businessesโ Effort to Improve Livelihoods
Woo added that Kuala Lumpur residents prioritise improving their livelihoods through economic activities. Therefore, entertainment events are welcomed and supported, so long as they do not incite crime or disrupt public order, such as illegal street racing.
Given that many small businesses in Kuala Lumpur are eager to leverage Visit Malaysia 2026 to increase their income and elevate the cityโs global profile, such aspirations to improve livelihoods through legitimate economic means are entirely reasonable and should be fully supported by the government.
โThis is not a PN-governed state, and thus we will not see farcical incidents like in Melaka, where DJ performances at a water music festival were cancelled due to interference by some PN-linked agents.โ
Woo concluded by calling on the โTourism Repellent Ambassadorsโ to continue imposing bans and cancelling events in their own states, effectively diverting more tourists to non-PN states. This will allow businesses and communities operating in more open and progressive states to benefit from the economic gains of Visit Malaysia 2026.
(Press Statement by DAPSY National Chairman, YB Woo Kah Leong on 4 May 2026)
