THE Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has initiated a thorough investigation into allegations that it appropriated the design concept for Malaysia's pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka without proper acknowledgment or compensation.
In a statement released today, MITI said it takes note of the allegation pertaining to the Malaysia World Expo concept creation that has been circulating on social media and reported by the press.
“MITI is currently undertaking a thorough investigation to gather and ascertain all relevant facts concerning the allegation made by an individual on social media.
“We take this matter very seriously and reserve all our legal rights. MITI remains committed to the highest standards of integrity and compliance in all its dealings. We will take the necessary legal action if and when necessary,” the statement read.
The claims were made by a creative consultancy firm, Current Media Group (CMG) Sdn Bhd, through an Instagram user known as “Feythehuman”.
According to the allegations, MITI engaged CMG in 2022 to develop the pavilion's concept, theme, and architectural direction.
CMG presented its proposal to key stakeholders, including MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and was assured of a formal appointment.
However, in January 2023, CMG was informed that the project would not proceed as planned and that MITI intended to open the work for tender.
Feythehuman claims that during the tender briefing, CMG's concepts were presented almost verbatim, accompanied by documents bearing CMG's initials in the file names.
The Malaysian Pavilion's bamboo facade, featuring interwoven ribbons inspired by the traditional songket fabric, is currently showcased on the Expo 2025 website.
Feythehuman asserts that this design closely resembles CMG's original work, alleging that MITI made minor modifications and presented it as their own.
Extensive documentation, including emails, presentations, and comparisons between CMG's proposal and the pavilion's current design, has been shared on Instagram to support these claims.
Feythehuman further alleges that attempts to resolve the matter through meetings with Minister Tengku Zafrul and other stakeholders were met with dismissive responses.
When efforts to speak out publicly were made, Feythehuman claims to have been blocked by the minister and restricted by the official Expo 2025 Malaysia Instagram page.
MITI reportedly cited a lack of procurement records when refusing to compensate CMG.
As Malaysia prepares for its participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, the outcome of this investigation may have significant implications for the nation's representation at the international event. - April 26, 2025
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