KUALA LUMPUR: Istana Budaya’s director-general Datuk Mohamed Juhari Shaarani has denied claims by singer Man Bai that the theatre management was practising favouritism.
Acknowledging that they received the application from the 51-year-old artiste to hold a concert there, Juhari added that the application was not only late, but also incomplete.
“We did receive the application and paperwork from Man Bai last August (for Konsert 2V Man Bai + Rahim Maarof), but it was incomplete and too late. Meanwhile, we received application for Konsert Duo Lagenda: Datuk Jamal Abdillah and Datuk M. Nasir in 2017,” he said in a news report today.
Juhari said that applications should be submitted at least a year in advance, since Istana Budaya would normally come out with its programme line up early in the year.
“But from time to time, we do have new and last minute paperwork which is then presented to the committee members for review. However, in this case, it was unfortunate for Man Bai as the slot he had requested was already taken up,” he said.
Yesterday, at a press conference announcing the details of the upcoming Konsert 2V Manbai + Rahim Maarof, Man Bai said he was a little disappointed with Istana Budaya for rejecting his application at the eleventh hour.
The concert will now take place on April 6 at Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman, MaTiC Kuala Lumpur.
Tickets can be purchased at www.ilassotickets.com