THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has urged concertgoers to use proper channels and not resort to scalpers when buying tickets.

This comes amid reports of Coldplay concert tickets being sold online at exorbitant prices.

“Regarding the resale of Coldplay tickets, we would like to advise users to make smart purchases by getting the tickets from official and legitimate sales channels,” the ministry said in a statement today. 

The ministry also said as customers they have the right to choose reasonably priced tickets.

“However, if the buyer feels there is an element of fraud in the ticket purchase, they should make an official complaint to the ministry by submitting relevant evidence.

“This is to enable investigations to be conducted under any Act enforced by the ministry or other agencies.”

Meanwhile, the Communications and Digital Ministry will call up the organiser of the Coldplay concert, which will take place in November, to understand their ticketing system and procedures.

Minister Fahmi Fadzil said this followed complaints from people who had difficulty purchasing tickets due to scalpers buying in bulk.

He said the meeting would also discuss measures that can be taken by the organiser to ensure the same problem would not recur in the future. 

“Among the things we may look into is the way tickets are bought, whether there should be restrictions or certain conditions imposed on the organisers.

“We are also looking at the existing legal provisions in case we need to take action,” he told reporters before paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg in Kuching yesterday. 

Fahmi had also told the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to take action against social media advertisements being used to sell Coldplay concert tickets at high prices. 

Fans of the British rock band were frustrated when they could not purchase tickets for the concert, to be held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on November 22, when sales started yesterday.

Ticket prices for the first-ever Coldplay concert in Malaysia ranged from RM228 to RM3,088. 

Coldplay will have a series of shows in Asia in November as part of their record-breaking “Music of the Spheres” world tour. 

The five-member band, led by vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, have picked up accolades, including Favourite Touring Artist at the 2022 American Music Awards and Tour of the Year at the 2023 iHeartRadio Awards. – May 20, 2023.