Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the ministry is ready to engage TikTok to allow Malaysian media organisations to monetise livestreams on the platform [1, 2, 3, 4]. Currently, TikTok does not permit business, government, political, or public interest accounts to send or receive Gifts, limiting media outlets' ability to generate revenue despite high viewership [3].
Fahmi highlighted, "If a media organisation conducts a livestream that attracts tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of viewers through its official account, there should be some form of return from platforms such as TikTok" [1]. Media groups have raised concerns that they cannot monetise popular livestreams even when official accounts generate millions of views [1, 2, 3, 4].
The Communications Ministry plans to continue collaborating with social media platforms to explore viable monetisation models to support Malaysia’s media ecosystem and ensure sustainable growth [1, 4]. Fahmi also raised issues regarding enforcement of rules against harmful content and the criminal elements behind fake accounts producing divisive content related to race, religion, and royalty [3].
On a separate note, Live Nation Malaysia confirmed that tickets for BTS’s Kuala Lumpur concerts remain fully available after allegations of insider sales and unofficial distribution surfaced on social media [5]. The BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' concerts are scheduled for December 12 and 13 at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil and will feature a 360-degree stage design [5]. Live Nation said all sales will be strictly online and emphasized, "The fans are our priority" [5].
Kuala Lumpur is preparing for a surge in concerts in 2026, with at least 25 international performances expected to draw an estimated 500,000 fans across multiple venues [6, 7, 8]. To combat ticket scams, the government launched the ‘Beli Tiket Selamat’ campaign, aiming to raise awareness and improve victim support and enforcement [6, 7]. Fahmi warned that artificial intelligence and deepfake technology could be used to sell fraudulent tickets [6].
Minister Hannah Yeoh vowed to reduce bureaucratic barriers to concert approvals to boost Kuala Lumpur's status as a major concert hub in Asia. She said, "Time is money, speed is the currency, and this is how I want to drive DBKL forward – by facilitating approvals efficiently when dealing with applications" [9]. Venues under Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia are in high demand, and the private sector is encouraged to collaborate on expanding and upgrading facilities [8].
In 2024, Malaysia hosted over 400 concerts generating RM553 million in tourism revenue. The concert industry is projected to contribute nearly RM1.7 billion to the local economy in 2026 [8]. The recent Rain Rave Water Music Festival during Labour Day 2026 reportedly generated RM320 million in economic impact with over 250,000 visitors combined [9].
