When it comes to festive decorations, Malaysian shopping malls often go above and beyond, even trying to set records with their setups. However, this one mall in Sabah appears to be going in the opposite direction, opting for something simple for this Christmas season.
TikTok user @/maemon95, who also goes by Clarence, recently shared a few videos of 1Borneo Hypermall’s Christmas decor. Unfortunately, the choice of setup seemed a little lacklustre. In the first video, the shopping centre appeared to have placed one Christmas tree in the middle of the atrium. The tree is also a regular-sized tree, which seems to emphasise the emptiness of the space.


The video has since gone viral and attracted thousands of comments. Many joked that the mall is trying a minimal seasonal decor this year to differentiate itself from others. Some also quipped that the tree might slowly grow bigger as Christmas approaches, turning into a large tree by 25th December. Others playfully wondered if the mall is facing budget cuts or saving up to prepare for the upcoming Chinese New Year decor, given that it’s only a month away.
Following his first video, Clarence has shared new updates on the mall’s Christmas decor, revealing that the management has since added more elements. In his second video, the TikTok user showed that the atrium has more decorations, including some gold reindeer, a few snowmen and a Nutcracker statue. There are also a couple of photo spots where customers can pose for some festive pictures. Unfortunately, the atrium is still noticeably empty.


Even with the new updates, many netizens still poke fun at the mall’s attempt at decorating. One particular comment pointed out the Nutcracker, quipping that even the statue doesn’t emit Christmas spirit. Some also joked that the mall might have lost its motivation to celebrate Christmas this year. However, some locals revealed that 1Borneo Hypermall used to have amazing Christmas decor, so they are understandably disappointed about this year’s outcome.
There isn’t any news on whether the mall has added more decorations. However, perhaps this is a good time to remind people that Christmas isn’t always about fancy decorations – but what are your thoughts on this?
Watch the videos below:
@maemon95 Semangat christmas tahun ni
@maemon95 Minimalist and simple