Qingming refers to the “tomb-sweeping day” or Cheng Beng observed by ethnic Chinese here.
The decorative pagoda-like structure erected outside the mall stood tall above mall-goers, but netizens said it closely resembled the prayer paraphernalia that were burnt on Qingming.
In a post on Malaysia Shopping Mall, Facebook user Zi Shen said the popular shopping mall should have conducted more research and consulted members of the Chinese community before proceeding with the idea, describing it as “truly ugly”.
“It doesn’t bring any feeling of Chinese New Year, but more like Qingming.
“Totally failed (concept). Please design this thing with a sincere heart and after sufficient research instead of doing this just to ‘submit your homework’,” he said.
Others questioned the mall’s marketing budget and described the decoration as a “definite fail”, urging the mall to pay greater respect to Chinese culture.
Some were more sarcastic in their comments, with one Yong Chee Keat saying it was a “great idea since the decorative piece could be used until Qingming”.
“Is Suria KLCC opening a branch in heaven?” asked Facebook user Andrew Kit in jest.
Meanwhile, Anton Seng quipped that the decorative structure “must have been sponsored by Nirvana”, referring to the funeral services company.
Some netizens said the fundamental idea behind the structure was good but lamented how it was poorly and lazily executed. “At least craft the doors and windows properly,” said one Facebook user.
FMT has reached out to Suria KLCC for comment.
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