KUALA LUMPUR – Scroll down to the comments section of the Facebook page of concert promoter B’in Music, which is bringing Taiwanese band Mayday to Kuala lumpur in January 2026, and you may find something remarkable: a sea of Malay words amid the usual Chinese comments.
One of the most frequently mentioned phrases was “lembu kuning”, which means “yellow cow” in Malay. The term riffs on the Chinese slang for concert scalpers, which originated in 20th-century Shanghai, where labourers mobbed ticket counters like frenzied oxen to hoard tickets and resell them at a mark-up.
Here, the Malay comments came from ethnic chinese concertgoers from Malaysia, who weaponised the local language to express frustration that they had been priced out of their home shows by scalpers from China, who snapped up tickets via bots and proxies.
“Yes, we queued up and waited but got tickets far away at the back. Yellow cows are selling tickets for front seats, in the middle with better views,” user Ham ManChin wrote in Malay in a Dec 3 Facebook post.
“Too many yellow cows selling tickets. What can we do?” added another user, HappySong Jenny, also in Malay.
With Malay comments flooding the post, another user, Jannifer Hsiaomayi, joked by asking if the rock band actually sings in Malay instead of Mandarin.
Even the local concert promoter got in on the act, telling fans to “try again today” in Malay.
Ethnic Chinese make up just over 23 per cent of MalaysiaS population. The Malay language is a compulsory subject in both national and vernacular schools, although it may be taught as a second language in schools that teach in Mandarin.
When K-pop star G-Dragon performed in July 2025, Malaysian fans were fuming that over 90 per cent of attendees were non-Malaysians – mostly Chinese nationals – as reported by local newspaper China Press.
locals were also outraged when VVIP tickets that cost RM1,339 (S$420) were scalped online for up to RM28,000, and reportedly snapped up by affluent Chinese nationals. The lack of Malay wording in signage and announcements was also criticised, causing the organiser to vow to make improvements in the future.
Frequent concertgoer Fish Lee, 30, saeid the influx of Chinese fans made her feel like she was not at a show in her own country. She cited the song-request session at Taiwanese Mandopop star Jay Chou’s concert in Kuala lumpur in october 2024 as an example.
Malaysians Express Concerns Over Competition & Ticket Scalping Amidst China Visa-Free Policy
Malaysian small and medium-sized businesses and concertgoers are voicing concerns about increasing competition and difficulties securing event tickets,issues amplified by recent developments including a visa-free arrangement with China.
Ironically, the term “neijuan“, originating in China to describe intense and often pointless competition, is gaining traction among Malaysian business owners. As December 2023, when a visa-free entry agreement with China came into effect, Malaysian businesses have reported facing increased competition from chinese nationals across various sectors, including manufacturing and services. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/03/malaysian-businesses-raise-concerns-over-influx-of-chinese-nationals
The influx of Chinese nationals has led to complaints of unfair or excessive competition, prompting calls for government intervention to protect local businesses.
Separately, fans are frustrated by the challenges of obtaining tickets for popular concerts, leading to demands for stricter measures to combat scalping. Concert attendees are advocating for the implementation of a real-name ticketing system, similar to those used in South Korea, which verifies the ticket holder’s identity against a valid photo ID to ensure they are the original purchaser. https://www.theedgemalaysia.com/content/concert-ticket-scalpers-must-be-stopped-says-deputy-minister
Cheong yi Fang, a 23-year-old K-pop fan, argues that such measures are justified, noting that Malaysian taxpayers have contributed to the construction of concert venue infrastructure and should have priority access to events. “Real-name ticketing, priority access for locals when ticketing opens, or any form of action to prioritise locals would be a fair form of return,” she stated.
These concerns highlight a growing sentiment among Malaysians regarding fair competition and access to cultural events.The government is currently considering measures to address ticket scalping,with Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh stating the need to stop scalpers. https://www.theedgemalaysia.com/content/concert-ticket-scalpers-must-be-stopped-says-deputy-minister
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