Latest news with #FeyIlyas
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
MITI concludes probe into Osaka Expo pavilion dispute
KUALA LUMPUR: The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) has concluded its internal investigation into allegations of creative appropriation involving the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. In a response to Business Times, the ministry said it has also initiated contact with Current Media Group (CMG) for further engagement, although it did not disclose the findings of its inquiry. "MITI has completed its investigation on this matter. We have contacted CMG and will engage them further," the ministry said. The update follows a statement by CMG announcing that it had served MITI with a formal letter of demand. The company said the move came after "more than two months of silence" from MITI, despite the ministry's earlier pledge to investigate claims that the pavilion's concept, theme and narrative closely resembled a proposal submitted by CMG prior to the official tender process. CMG founder Fey Ilyas first raised the issue publicly on April 25, highlighting alleged similarities between its proposal and the final design adopted for the Malaysia Pavilion. The post drew public attention and prompted MITI to announce, on April 26, that it would conduct an internal inquiry. However, CMG claimed that since that announcement, there had been no follow-up from MITI in the form of document requests, interviews or progress updates. The company said it resorted to legal action after exhausting informal channels. "After exhausting all informal avenues for dialogue and giving MITI ample time to act in good faith, CMG instructed its counsel to formally issue a letter of demand on July 17 seeking formal acknowledgment of CMG's contributions and fair compensation," it said. "Should MITI fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law. "CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms," it added.
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
CMG sends LOD to MITI regarding designs used at Osaka World Expo
DIRECT marketing firm Current Media Group (CMG) has sent a letter of demand (LOD) to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) regarding the latter's use of its designs in the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan which the company said was without permission. CMG is also requesting a formal recognition for its contributions. The company said the LOD was issued yesterday after all informal attempts at communication had failed and MITI was given sufficient time to respond in good faith. 'Should MITI fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law,' it said in a statement. On April 25, CMG founder Fey Ilyas took to social media and accused MITI of using his company's designs for the expo without payment or credit. He added that the company was hired in 2022 to develop the pavilion's concept, theme and architecture, and had presented the proposal to key figures including MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. Fey shared that the company was promised it would be officially appointed for the project but was told in January 2023 that the appointment would not proceed and the ministry wanted to open a tender. He claimed that for two years, CMG faced delays and was denied proper recognition or fair compensation for its work. Moreover, Fey explained that CMG was advised to remain silent to avoid risking future opportunities. MITI later announced it was investigating the allegation and would take legal action if needed, but according to CMG, the ministry has not contacted it for any documents, interviews or clarification, and has not provided any meaningful update on the investigation since then. 'CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour and upholds equitable terms,' it said. — TMR
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Miti served LOD over alleged use of creative firm's pavilion design
KUALA LUMPUR: The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) has been served a letter of demand from a creative consultancy company who is seeking acknowledgement and compensation for use of the firm's designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan. In a statement, Current Media Group (CMG) said should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, it would pursue every legal remedy available through the law. "After exhausting all informal avenues for dialogue and giving Miti ample time to act in good faith, CMG instructed its counsel to formally issue a Letter of Demand on July 17 seeking formal acknowledgment of CMG's contributions and fair compensation. "Should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law. "CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms," it said. On April 25, CMG's founder Fey Ilyas claimed that the concept, theme, and narrative structure of the Malaysia Pavilion bore clear similarities to the proposal CMG developed and presented to Miti before the official tender process. The post quickly garnered attention, prompting Miti to issue a statement on April 26 indicating that an internal investigation was under way.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Agency accuses Miti of snubbing talks, takes legal route over Osaka Expo design dispute
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — A direct marketing company has reportedly issued a letter of demand to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) after previously alleging that the latter had used its designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan without permission. Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that Current Media Group Sdn Bhd's (CMG) is seeking formal recognition of its contributions to the project, and the legal move was made after all informal avenues for dialogue were exhausted after Miti was given 'ample time to act in good faith'. 'Should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law,' it reportedly said. 'CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms,' it added. In April, Miti said it was investigating claims made on social media alleging that it had used a creative agency's concept for the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka without credit or payment. The ministry said it has taken note of the allegations, which have been widely shared online following a viral Instagram post by Fey Ilyas. The ministry did not name the individual or agency involved, but the viral post by Fey Ilyas — shared under the handle @feyilyas — accused the government of using the agency's concept, theme, narrative and architectural direction for the Malaysia Pavilion, without credit or compensation. In the post, Fey said the team had 'helped secure approvals, brought in world-class partners, and shaped the foundation' of Malaysia's presence at the global expo. He also claimed the agency was told to stay quiet or risk losing future opportunities. FMT reported that despite Miti's response, CMG said it had not received any requests for documents, interviews, or clarification from the ministry.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Miti issued LoD over alleged plagiarism of expo designs
Current Media Group founder Fey Ilyas took to social media in April to accuse the ministry of using his company's designs for the expo without payment or credit. (Expo 2025 pic) PETALING JAYA : A direct marketing company has issued the investment, trade and industry ministry (Miti) a letter of demand seeking compensation for use of the firm's designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan. Current Media Group (CMG) is also demanding acknowledgement of its contributions. In a statement, CMG said it decided to issue an LoD to the ministry yesterday after exhausting all informal avenues for dialogue and giving Miti 'ample time to act in good faith'. 'Should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law,' it said. On April 25, CMG founder Fey Ilyas took to social media to accuse Miti of using his company's designs for the expo without payment or credit. Fey claimed that his company was engaged by the ministry in 2022 to develop the concept, theme, and architectural direction of the Malaysian pavilion. He said a proposal was presented to key stakeholders, including the minister, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, and the company was repeatedly assured that it would be formally appointed for the project. However, it was told in January 2023 that the appointment would not proceed and that the ministry wanted to open a tender. Fey claimed that his company was given the runaround for two years when it tried to get acknowledgement and fair compensation for its work. He said his company was also advised to stay silent about the alleged appropriation to prevent jeopardising future opportunities. Miti subsequently said that it was conducting an internal investigation, and that it took the allegation seriously. It said it would take legal action 'if and when necessary'. However, CMG said it had not received a single request for documents, interviews, or clarification since Miti's statement, nor had the ministry provided a substantive update on the status of its inquiry. 'CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms,' it said.
