In a statement, Sportswork said the entertainment industry would have been aware of impending acts well ahead of official announcements.

“Sportswork wishes to highlight that the said joint contract that was signed in early 2023 is meant to support the overall venue management,” it said.

“Sportswork and ASM’s services have been agreed upon and worked on actively and consistently with PSM since then.”

Yesterday, FMT columnist Frankie D’Cruz reported that Malaysia had the American pop star in its grasp in 2022, but lost out to Singapore a year later.

Swift was said to be on the government’s radar after it signed a contract with a US venue management company in 2022 to transform Kuala Lumpur Sports City in Bukit Jalil into a hub for sports and live entertainment.

ASM Global, an affiliate of Anschutz Entertainment Group and Swift’s concert promoter, was said to also partner with Sportswork to enhance operations, create events, enhance visitor experiences, implement cutting-edge technology, and elevate food and beverage offerings.

However, the deal was not capitalised on when Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister after the 15th general election, and the American company was reduced to a consultant’s role for the optimisation of Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

On Tuesday, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the incentive provided to Swift to make Singapore the only Southeast Asian stop on her world tour was not intended as a hostile act towards its neighbours.

Singapore previously said it had provided a grant to Swift to perform there, without mentioning the terms of the deal – an announcement that annoyed other countries, with the Thai prime minister saying the grant was made on condition that Singapore would be Swift’s only stop in the region.