As National Day approaches, Merdeka-themed banners and billboards are popping up across the country. However, one particular digital billboard in Desa Sri Hartamas has sparked outrage due to a glaring mistake.
‘Triple KLCC’ spotted in the poster
According to an X post by user @_Acat_, the Brickfields Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) featured an AI-generated image of three KLCC towers—an error that has left many scratching their heads.
The third tower, an odd-looking addition, is inexplicably connected to the original twin towers by a bridge.
Spot the odd. pic.twitter.com/1JyQtffFSG
— Bob (@_Acat_) August 7, 2024
“Spot the odd (one out),” he wrote.
The post, which has garnered over 576k views and 1.1k reposts as of press time, has received significant backlash online.
Later reshared on Facebook, one netizen expressed disappointment, emphasizing that the Merdeka month is a time to showcase patriotic spirit, and more effort should have been put into the design.
He criticized the person in charge for being too lazy to use a proper image, suggesting that resources like Shutterstock, Freepik, and Pexels could have provided suitable alternatives.
Media Agency Apologises
Following the backlash, the Brickfields District Police Headquarters ordered the immediate removal of the billboard.
“The National Day Greeting display that went viral on social media was from a Digital Billboard in the Desa Sri Hartamas area.”
“The Brickfields District Police Headquarters (IPD) has advised the advertising company owner to take down the advertisement immediately,” read the official statement.
The agency behind the visual also acknowledged the mistake, stating, “[…] We have identified the mistake in the visual shown on the screen and have immediately removed it. We apologize for any confusion that may have arisen and will reassess our procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.”
The incident has ignited a conversation on social media, with many questioning the use of AI-generated images for such significant national displays, especially when they result in such noticeable errors.
