February 2024 Recap: Najib Reduced Sentence, Ed Sheeran Explores KL & Coldplay’s Concert Breaks Record #RDRECAP

February 2024 was a month full of significant events and memorable moments, including a visit by a global artist, a breaking of a record and a controversial shortening of a prison sentence.

Here's a quick recap of what happened in February 2024:

Ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak gets 1MDB corruption scandal jail term halved

Early in February this year, former Prime Minister Najib Razak had his prison sentence reduced by half.

In August 2022, following a corruption case in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, he was sent to Kajang Prison to serve his sentence.

According to a statement by the pardons board, he was initially convicted and sent to jail for 12 years, which has now been reduced to six. Najib is set to be released on 23 August 2028. His fines were also reduced to RM50 million from RM210 million.

Many Malaysians were dismayed by the decision, criticising our justice system for appearing not to uphold its values.

Ed Sheeran visits a local barber & plays badminton during his KL visit

Image Credit: Instagram

The Grammy award-winning singer Ed Sheeran held his Mathematics Tour at Bukit Jalil National Stadium this year.

While in the country, the ‘Shape of You’ singer took some time to enjoy a couple of local experiences, like visiting a local barber and attending a batik painting session.

He also played a round of badminton with 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Chan Peng Soon.

Coldplay’s first-ever concert in Malaysia breaks attendance record

Image Credit: The Star

In November 2023, the British pop-rock band held their first-ever concert in the country, attended by over 80,000 fans.

Fast forward three months later, it was revealed that the attendance to the seven-time Grammy-winning band in Malaysia broke the record for being the most attended concert of their career.

The gig at Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Jalil Stadium grossed USD$10,904,369 (RM51.9 million) from 81,812 tickets sold.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram, Alamy Live News, The Star