YG UNITED
An attempt on K-pop sensation Psy’s life forced organisers to call off plans to have the singer participate in a “yee sang” tossing ceremony with Barisan Nasional (BN) dignitaries during the coalition’s recent Chinese New Year open house here.
State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow said today that they were told to ensure the police were on high alert due to the death threats the superstar received before he came here.
He denied speculation that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak left the stage after Psy did not come up when invited to toss “yee sang” with BN leaders.
Teng said the delay in Psy making his appearance was due to security measures to prevent an attempt on his life.
“There was an attempt on Psy’s life so the police had to act to secure the area since his tent was a distance to the stage, that’s why we ask the prime minister to come down from the stage,” he said.
He said Psy had received death threats if he came to Penang to perform.
He denied that the Korean pop star had refused to “low sang” (tossing yee sang) with the BN leaders, saying it was not part of Psy’s program.
“He was only here to perform, this (tossing yee sang) is not part of the program,” he said.
He said Psy did not know what is “low sang” and since it was not in his program, his team had to explain it to him.
“By the time they explained to him, it is all over,” he said.
He said the emcee did not follow her cue which had resulted in the yee sang “misunderstanding”.
Teng added that bringing Psy to Penang was his way of telling the people that he delivers on his promises.
“All I wanted was just to tell the people of Penang that what I promise, I will deliver,” he said.
He said if the people have confidence in him, next year he would bring another superstar to Penang and it did not necessarily have to be during Chinese New Year.
Teng said he had friends in the industry who had offered to bring the Korean superstar over and the performance was also fully sponsored by a private sponsor.
“It was sponsored by private sponsors who preferred to remain anonymous as they are afraid of being ‘ victimized’ if their identities were revealed,” he said.
Speculation has been rife on social networking sites and websites that BN had used taxpayers’ money to fund the massive event on Monday where more than 60,000 people turned up for the event.
“I was given a choice of between Psy or Justin Bieber but since I don’t know who Justin Bieber is, I decided to bring Psy over,” Teng said at a press conference at the Jelutong Gerakan Chinese New Year open house.
“I can even bring Elton John to perform in Penang if the DAP state government can convince PAS to allow Elton John to come here,” he said jokingly.
MORE OF THE STORY AT ‘THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER’
Source: ygfamilyy
