Ministries to hold meeting to resolve Coldplay tickets issue, says Salahuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: A meeting will be held between the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Communications and Digital Ministry on Monday (May 22) evening to resolve the issue of Coldplay tickets being sold at exorbitant prices by scalpers.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said enforcement officials will also attend the meeting.

“We will evaluate the situation. If the issue is found to be under the Comms Ministry’s jurisdiction, we will leave it to them,” he said.

If the Communications Ministry says it relates more towards consumer rights, our ministry will use the Consumer Protection Act,” Salahuddin told a press conference at Parliament on Monday.

He said the ministry had also yet to receive any official complaints regarding the matter.

“We have, however, heard of these cases on both social and mainstream media,” he said.

On Saturday (May 20), the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said those who suspect elements of fraud in the sale of tickets for the Coldplay concert should file a complaint.

This was to enable investigations to be carried out under any of the laws enforced by related ministries, it said in a statement.

The ministry also called on traders to be more ethical in their transactions and avoid breaching laws.

With all tickets for the concert sold out, scalpers are having a field day, with one offering tickets as high as RM43,000 each on an online marketplace.

The post later said the ticket was "locked" at RM55,200, but it has since been deleted.

The popular British band will be performing at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 22 as part of its "Music Of The Spheres World Tour".

It is Coldplay's first concert in Malaysia.

Separately, Salahuddin said the sugar shortage in Kedah has been resolved.

“A total of 176 of the ministry’s enforcement officers were mobilised to parts of Kedah through ‘Ops Manis’, and 214 checks were conducted on sellers and wholesalers,” he said.

He also warned the public against panic buying, and to report similar cases to the ministry.

“If we find any cases of sellers hiding or manipulating sugar supplies, they will face action.

“We will not compromise on this,” he said.