MP pans Miti over response to Expo 2025 plagiarism claims
Published: Aug 2, 2025 12:27 PM
Updated: 5:26 PM
Lim Lip Eng has taken the Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry to task, saying it failed to deny plagiarism allegations involving Malaysia’s pavilion design for Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
In a statement, the Kepong MP criticised Miti’s response, which referred to ongoing “active discussions” with the company making the allegations, as evasive and lacking transparency.
“The ministry has not denied the allegations at all, and has instead only informed us that they are conducting discussions with the company.
“The failure to openly deny such allegations raises a more serious question about transparency and authenticity.
“If it is true that the design has not been plagiarised, then why is it so hard for them to say so?” he said.
Lim also claimed to have received complaints from other local companies, alleging their ideas were similarly used without consent after participating in government tenders.
Malaysia Pavilion for Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan
“This practice is of serious concern and will erode trust in our public procurement systems,” he said.
“The government should urgently address whether the design has genuinely been plagiarised, disclose the amount and terms of any existing compensation, take action against those responsible, and strengthen guidelines to protect the work of private contractors.”
Lim stressed that the matter went beyond a single company and involved public funds, as well as Malaysia’s image on the international stage.
“This issue involves our national integrity being scrutinised on an international platform. The ministry must be transparent and accountable,” he said.
In a written parliamentary reply yesterday, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said his ministry was in “active discussions” with Current Media Group (CMG), the local company that accused Miti of plagiarising its design for the Osaka expo.
CMG issued a letter of demand to Miti on July 17, seeking compensation and recognition for its work on the Malaysian pavilion.
The company previously said it decided to initiate legal proceedings after exhausting all informal avenues of engagement and allowing ample time for the ministry to act in good faith.
Its founder, Fey Ilyas, first made the allegations public on April 13 via Instagram, claiming CMG was responsible for the “concept, theme, narrative, and architectural direction” of the pavilion design.
Fey alleged that despite CMG’s contribution, the company was neither paid nor credited, and was instead advised to remain silent to avoid jeopardising future opportunities.
Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, is being held from April 13 to Oct 13, 2025 and is meant to bring together ideas, investments, and technologies from across the world, as well as contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“The government should urgently address whether the design has genuinely been plagiarised, disclose the amount and terms of any existing compensation, take action against those responsible, and strengthen guidelines to protect the work of private contractors.”
Lim stressed that the matter went beyond a single company and involved public funds, as well as Malaysia’s image on the international stage.
“This issue involves our national integrity being scrutinised on an international platform. The ministry must be transparent and accountable,” he said.
In a written parliamentary reply yesterday, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said his ministry was in “active discussions” with Current Media Group (CMG), the local company that accused Miti of plagiarising its design for the Osaka expo.
CMG issued a letter of demand to Miti on July 17, seeking compensation and recognition for its work on the Malaysian pavilion.
The company previously said it decided to initiate legal proceedings after exhausting all informal avenues of engagement and allowing ample time for the ministry to act in good faith.
Its founder, Fey Ilyas, first made the allegations public on April 13 via Instagram, claiming CMG was responsible for the “concept, theme, narrative, and architectural direction” of the pavilion design.
Fey alleged that despite CMG’s contribution, the company was neither paid nor credited, and was instead advised to remain silent to avoid jeopardising future opportunities.
Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, is being held from April 13 to Oct 13, 2025 and is meant to bring together ideas, investments, and technologies from across the world, as well as contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
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