Charity dinner in conjunction with TYT birthday cancelled
The highly awaited charity dinner, “Legends Live On” Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, P. Ramlee - in aid of the Sabah Society for the Blind and Sabah Thalassemia Society - in conjunction with the official birthday of Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin on September 22, has been cancelled.
Organising chairman Chris Gomes, or better known as Elvis Presley of Sabah, said the cancellation was due to a conflict of interest between event organiser, Pertubuhan Sinaran Seni Muzik Bintang-Bintang Sabah (PSM) and DMS Group.
“We enjoyed an excellence response from TYT on the proposed event during our courtesy call (on May 13, 2019) to which I have personally explained to TYT on our expectations for the event.
“However, we have struggled with numerous obstacles on financial undertaking, logistical (venue) issue, changes to staging programs and management reshuffle which was decided between the main organizer PSM and DMS Group.
“As a result, discontentment among the working committee had led to disarray in the organization when DMS Group decided to engage another co-host group and totally changed the theme and highlight of the event, including dropping Malaysian Tom Jones impersonator and Elvis Presley impersonators from Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur and Penang from the event,” he said.
Gomes added that he and a number of individuals had tried to proceed with the proposed event but to no avail.
“I have been working with a number of great people to get ahead of these challenges to find collaborative solutions but with less than a month left before the event, I have to make the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the event.
“Again, I deeply apologise for not being able to execute the event and any unfulfilled expectation highlighted especially to the TYT, the pledges made to the said societies and the public,” he said.
Although the event on September 22 had been cancelled, Gomes said he was committed to continue with his initial charity dinner plan, but would select professional organisers with committed and dedicated committees for collaboration.