KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- It has been five years since Islamic popstar, Maher Zain, had a concert here at Dataran Putrajaya, so his local fans will be thrilled to learn that he will be back for a series of shows around the country in March.

The ‘Maher Zain Malaysia Tour 2019’ will kick-off at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on March 9, followed by Pasir Gudang Stadium, Johor on March 15, SPICE Arena, Penang on March 16 and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on March 17.

“I know a lot of people have been waiting a long time for me to come,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama today.

The 37-year-old Swedish-Lebanese singer-songwriter, said fans in Malaysia have always been his big supporters and he hopes his tour here will be successful.

“After I released my first album in 2009, I was in Malaysia in 2010, and I think that was when I became popular. Alhamdulillah, Malaysians have been very warm towards me,” said the singer of ‘Insha Allah’ and ‘For The Rest Of My Life’.

While here, one thing that Maher hopes to do is enjoy satay with peanut sauce because that is his favourite food.

Maher, who released his new single, ‘Huwa AlQuran’, seven months ago, said the tour will feature many of his popular songs and hopes fans will have the time of their lives at his concerts.

“When I am on stage, I get to see all kinds of emotions in the audience. Some people smile, some cry and some are contemplative, probably saying a doa,” he said.

In 2011, Maher recorded some popular songs in Malay, like ‘Insha Allah’ and ‘For The Rest Of My Life’.

In 2016, he was in Malaysia to promote his third album called ‘One’ in a small-scale event.

When asked if he would release an album in Malay, Maher said he does not have plans for that at the moment, but does not discount the possibility although he does not speak Malay