A lot seems to have happened over the weekend. Photos of the Maybank name displayed at the summit of the Merdeka 118 tower have circulated online. The images have immediately sparked outrage among netizens, who argued that the signage did not reflect what the skyscraper represents.
Over the weekend, reports emerged that the Maybank lettering on Merdeka 118 was being gradually removed in response to the backlash. However, this may not actually be the case. Here’s why:
For context, earlier this month, Maybank announced that their HQ would be relocating from the Menara Maybank to Merdeka 118, taking up 33 floors of the world’s second-tallest building. As the anchor tenant of the tower, they have naming and signage rights. However, the decision to place their name at the tower’s summit drew criticism.
Despite reports suggesting that the signage was being gradually removed, the company clarified that the circulating photos were fake and that installation of the signage was still ongoing. “So far, only the ‘MAY’ portion of the signage has been installed, and there is still a long way to go before the ‘BANK’ portion is added,” the company told News Straits Times. Maybank has yet to directly respond to the backlash over its decision to place the name on the iconic building.
Unfortunately for the company, the criticism did not end there. The latest development sparked further debate, with many urging the bank to replace the lettering with the official Maybank logo instead, suggesting that it would be more aesthetically pleasing. Some argued that having the country’s leading bank at the top of the world’s second-tallest building is a source of pride, as it would draw greater attention to Malaysia.
What do you think about the Maybank letters on Merdeka 118? Should they have gone with the Harimau Malaya logo instead, or should they have just left the building as it is?
Sources: NST, TheSunDaily, TheVibes, Twitter
