PETALING JAYA: The Jay Chou World Tour organisers booked the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil almost four years before the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secured it for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup, youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh said today.

“Booking for the Jay Chou World Tour was made in March 2019, while FAM booked the stadium for AFF 2022 in August 2022,” she said in a tweet.

“The concert organisers need 14 days to set up the stage, which involves 500 crew members, of which 185 are international crew members, 45 heavy machinery, 200 speakers and 800 lights.

“They delayed it by two-and-a-half days to make way for AFF.”

The concert by the renowned Taiwanese singer will be held at the National Stadium on Jan 15.

Football fans had voiced their displeasure on social media over having fewer tickets available for the first leg of the semifinal match on Jan 7.

Earlier today, Yeoh said the ministry was looking into the 21,000 seats that had to be vacated due to the concert stage.

Malaysia will meet Thailand in a semifinal match on Saturday. All 59,000 tickets put up for online sale were snapped up in 24 hours.

After the first leg clash at Bukit Jalil, Harimau Malaya will leave for Thailand for the return leg at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, in Bangkok, on Jan 10.

If Malaysia can overcome six-time winners Thailand, they will take on either Vietnam or Indonesia in the two-legged final on Jan 13 and 16.

For ppl who think the stadium is for sporting events only... Read this.

At such a late stage with bookings all done?

Seeing just how crap the stadium is now.............

Unfortunately for semis, this is impossible as its too last minute liao.

But if go to final, then JDT is a good choice. Would be beneficial for TMJ also.