KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Singer Zainal Abidin and several other performers claimed they had not yet been paid for their services during the closing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games 2017 (KL2017).

Malaysiakini reported Zainal as saying he felt neglected by organisers of KL2017 and that although he did not rely on income from a single source, artistes should be compensated for their hard work.

“It’s not just ministers who want a life of luxury. We artistes also want a good life,” Zainal told Malaysiakini today.

He added he had been told a company had been appointed by the government to pay the performers.

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Zainal had reportedly asked his lawyers to take the necessary steps to secure payment from the government-appointed company in charge of the games’ payroll.

The late payment was revealed after singer-actress Adibah Noor took to Twitter yesterday to claim that preparations for Budget 2018 had been the excuse given to performers waiting to get paid.


She also said besides celebrities and other performers, those affected included dancers and children.

Other celebrity performers at the KL2017 closing ceremony included Ella, Amy Search and David Arumugam.

Meanwhile, some celebrities were more fortunate. Malaysiakini reported that celebrity host Aznil Nawawi had received his full payment from the organisers.

Malaysian SEA Games organising committee (Masoc) told the news portal that the company in charge of payroll had been appointed through a tender by the Youth and Sports Ministry.

“So, whether an artiste has been paid or not, that is the company’s business. The artistes involved should refer to them,”

A Masoc media officer reportedly said artistes involved should refer to the company and the government should not be blamed.

“As of now, Masoc has paid out on more than 50 per cent of the contracts for the opening and closing ceremonies on behalf of the government,” Malaysiakini reported the officer as saying.