Yesterday (Monday, 21st July), it was announced that NCT WISH (NCT 위시/エヌシーティー·ウィッシュ), the Japanese sub-unit of NCT under SM Entertainment, will be coming to Malaysia as part of their “INTO THE WISH: OUR WISH” Asia tour. Fans were initially thrilled by the announcement, as they would finally have the chance to see their idols perform live.
However, those tears of joy quickly turned to disappointment upon realising there was an issue with the date chosen for the concert. Here’s why many of them are upset:
Not long after event organiser iMe Malaysia announced NCT WISH’s upcoming concert in Kuala Lumpur next year, fans were quick to point out that the chosen date, 7th March, may be inconvenient for Muslims, as it falls during the holy month of Ramadan. As there is still ample time before the event, many have urged the organiser to consider changing the date to ensure all fans have a fair opportunity to attend.
Others noted that, according to PUSPAL guidelines, organisers are prohibited from holding large-scale events on the eve of or during Islamic religious holidays. While the month of Ramadan is not explicitly classified as a religious holiday under these guidelines, the specific date of 7th March coincides with Nuzul Al-Quran, which is recognised as a prohibited date for hosting events such as concerts. This has left fans confused as to how the permit for the concert was approved in the first place or whether it has even been approved at all.
Even if it was on any date other date during Ramadan, many feel the month should still be acknowledged and taken into consideration, especially given that Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country. After what happened with G‑Dragon’s concert, it’s understandable that some fans have accused iMe Malaysia of prioritising foreign attendees, speculating that the date choice may be a deliberate move to limit access for Muslim fans to attend the upcoming NCT WISH concert.
At the time of writing, iMe Malaysia has yet to address fans’ concerns regarding the chosen date. While many have expressed that they would be devastated if the concert were cancelled, they have also made it clear that they are not willing to compromise their religious practices for a show. Let’s hope that there will be a solution to this problem so that all NCT WISH fans get an equal chance to see the members perform live on stage.
