Send in your Visit M’sia 2020 artwork

Ministry launches contest to replace controversial logo

PUTRAJAYA: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is running a contest to replace the controversial Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) logo.

“We want to encourage Malaysians to be part of the campaign by sharing their creative ideas,” said its minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.

The theme of the new logo will focus on sustainable tourism, he added.

Entries should depict local cultural aspects and eco-tourism attractions in the country.

“Through the VM2020 campaign, we want to reduce the negative impact of over-tourism and benefit the community through tourism activities,” he said.

The previous logo, chided by some for its “amateurish” design, was launched in Chiang Mai, Thailand, by former Tourism and Culture minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz last year.

Modelled after a postage stamp, the logo featured the Petronas Twin Towers, an orang utan hugging a proboscis monkey and a turtle at a beach – all donning sunglasses.

It bore the tag line: Travel. Enjoy. Respect.

At the time, Nazri defended the logo, saying “not a single sen” was spent as it was done by an experienced in-house team.

Many local graphic designers redesigned the logo and posted it online. Some even went viral for their unique and vibrant designs.

Mohamaddin said the winning entry will receive RM3,000 and will be used in all VM2020 promotions.

The first and second runners-up will receive RM2,000 and RM1,000, respectively.

Five consolation prize winners will receive RM250.

The competition is open to all Malaysians aged 18 and above from March 11 to 24.

Contest forms can be downloaded at www.tourism.gov.my.