KL concert cancelled out of respect for MH370

ashikinr@sph.com.sg

A two-day mega-concert that was supposed to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday and Saturday has been cancelled as a mark of respect for families and friends of passengers on board the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.

The Twin Towers @Live 2014 gig at Plaza Petronas at Kuala Lumpur City Centre would have seen US pop superstar Christina Aguilera (above) and Korean singer Rain on its line-up.

Other acts slated for the free gig, which had expected a crowd of over 20,000 people each day, include US rock band Lifehouse, British singer Rick Astley, English crooner Craig David, and Malaysian hip-hop artists Joe Flizzow and Altimet.

The cancellation follows Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement on Monday night that MH370 had been lost in the southern Indian Ocean.

UNANIMOUS

Event organiser Live At Work and event sponsor Petronas on behalf of other sponsors said yesterday that the decision was "unanimously taken as a sign of respect to the families, friends and loved ones of the passengers and crew of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370".

Their statement also offered condolences and said that the sponsors and organiser are "saddened by the tragedy".

The cancellation comes just after after the third day of Future Music Festival Asia was called off on March 15 "in the interest of public safety", following drug-related deaths.

Local Christina Aguilera fan Julie R, who had been planning to travel to Kuala Lumpur with a friend for Twin Towers @Live 2014, said she was slightly disappointed, but understood the reasoning behind the cancellation.

The 29-year-old bank employee said: "I can't imagine how the celebrations can go on considering what has happened. But still, if done tastefully, the event could have provided comfort to those attending it."