The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) confirmed it is investigating claims circulating on social media alleging unauthorized use of a creative agency’s concept for the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, without appropriate credit or compensation.
These claims gained widespread attention following a viral Instagram post by user Fey Ilyas, prompting MITI’s swift response.
“MITI is currently undertaking a detailed investigation to gather and verify all pertinent facts concerning the allegations shared on social media,” the ministry stated briefly.
“We regard this matter with utmost seriousness and reserve all legal rights. MITI remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and compliance. We will take necessary legal actions if warranted,” the statement continued.
Although MITI did not explicitly name any individual or agency, Fey’s widely shared Instagram post—under the username @feythehuman—directly accused the government of adopting the agency’s concept, theme, narrative, and architectural vision for the Malaysia Pavilion without giving due credit or remuneration.
In his post, Fey detailed the substantial effort by his agency, stating they had “helped secure approvals, brought in world-class partners, and shaped the foundation” for Malaysia’s significant presence at the global expo.
“As a small company, even receiving proper acknowledgement for a project of this scale would have helped us build our reputation and open doors to new opportunities. Instead, our work was taken — used without credit or compensation,” Fey wrote.
He further alleged his agency faced pressure to remain silent, with implications that speaking out could jeopardize future business prospects.
“But what’s the point of future work if it’s built on silence, exploitation, and fear?,” Fey questioned. “We chose to speak up. Because dignity is worth more than access.”