An extravagant party held by a top bank for its ageing founder has sparked ridicule online, with some comparing it to the type of event held in North Korea to praise leader Kim Jong-Il.
The party was held on July 23 to mark Public Bank Bhd's 45th anniversary and honour its 81-year-old chairman, Teh Hong Piow, but a video of the lavish celebration only began circulating onlineon YouTube and elsewhere this week.
The video shows hundreds of bank staff, singers, and dancers waving small flags in a banquet hall to welcome Teh's arrival.
The bank chief - who was ranked Malaysia's third-wealthiest person by Forbes magazine this year - was
brought in like a head of state, standing in the bed of a pickup truck flanked by motorcycle outriders dressed as policemen.
"Man of honour, a living legend. Let's rise up now and sing out loud," the crowd sang as the elderly chairman, backed by a pair of young ladies in tight dresses, slowly waved to cheering guests.
"He's our champion, makes us feel proud. He gives us mission, gives us fire, gives us vision, takes us higher."
Dozens of performers later stretched out their arms, as if worshipping Teh.
'What a waste'
The extravangza was savaged by Malaysian users of Twitter and numerous blogs.
"Malaysia's latest religious cult: Public Bank. Kim Jong-Il would be jealous," tweeted Khairy Jamaluddin, head of the youth wing of Umno, the country's dominant political party.
One blogger said Teh should use bank assets to help the community rather than fund such huge celebrations.
"Big sigh, what a waste. Surely, he would go down in history better if he would dish out all that money for some decent community work instead," the blogger said.
Teh founded the publicly-listed bank - which is now the country's third-largest in terms of assets - in 1966 and has received numerous awards over the years as one of Malaysia's top bankers.
Forbes has estimated his personal wealth at US$3 billion.
- AFP
The party was held on July 23 to mark Public Bank Bhd's 45th anniversary and honour its 81-year-old chairman, Teh Hong Piow, but a video of the lavish celebration only began circulating onlineon YouTube and elsewhere this week.
The video shows hundreds of bank staff, singers, and dancers waving small flags in a banquet hall to welcome Teh's arrival.
The bank chief - who was ranked Malaysia's third-wealthiest person by Forbes magazine this year - was
brought in like a head of state, standing in the bed of a pickup truck flanked by motorcycle outriders dressed as policemen.
"Man of honour, a living legend. Let's rise up now and sing out loud," the crowd sang as the elderly chairman, backed by a pair of young ladies in tight dresses, slowly waved to cheering guests.
"He's our champion, makes us feel proud. He gives us mission, gives us fire, gives us vision, takes us higher."
Dozens of performers later stretched out their arms, as if worshipping Teh.
'What a waste'
The extravangza was savaged by Malaysian users of Twitter and numerous blogs.
"Malaysia's latest religious cult: Public Bank. Kim Jong-Il would be jealous," tweeted Khairy Jamaluddin, head of the youth wing of Umno, the country's dominant political party.
One blogger said Teh should use bank assets to help the community rather than fund such huge celebrations.
"Big sigh, what a waste. Surely, he would go down in history better if he would dish out all that money for some decent community work instead," the blogger said.
Teh founded the publicly-listed bank - which is now the country's third-largest in terms of assets - in 1966 and has received numerous awards over the years as one of Malaysia's top bankers.
Forbes has estimated his personal wealth at US$3 billion.
- AFP
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