KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 ― The cost of the contentious logo and brand master guide promoting Kuala Lumpur as a tourist destination was less than RM15,000 and mostly financed by a private company, city mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz revealed today.

He also said that the logo did not cost RM15,000 as reported, but instead was the entire cost which included the launch and promotion.

“It was for a lot. For the launching lah and everything,” Mhd Amin told reporters after meeting with the capital city’s federal lawmakers here.

“A private company sponsored the logo. Now in tourism we have a lot of co-sponsors,” he added.

But no information was given about the original cost of the logo or as to who had sponsored the design.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said the controversy surrounding the logo highlighted the need for transparency as the lack of information made it hard to hold anyone accountable.

“The whole process lacks transparency, accountability so it ended up with this disastrous branding...I think it is quite mind boggling.

“We already have a horrible product but no one actually knows how much was paid for it, nor do we know where it came from,” she told reporters after meeting the mayor here.

The PKR vice-president added that the lack of transparency in how funds are used appeared to be “replicated” in most government departments as evident in the new tourism logo quagmire.

Nurul Izzah said Mhd Amin has agreed to heed the complaints of the MPs over the matter, but the mayor was not clear when asked to clarify if the Kuala Lumpur City Hall would consider changing the design.

Mhd Amin said the logo was not final and there was still space for improvisation.

“This brand can be improved...it depends on the committee,” he said, referring to the city tourism committee comprising government agencies and the private sector.

Yesterday, the city’s Tourism Bureau general manager Noraza Yusof said the budget cut on its branding exercise meant DBKL will not have the money to change the logo for now despite the public ridicule.

The logo and tagline, unveiled last Monday, was widely mocked after a magazine highlighted the design online and asked readers for their feedback.

The logo and branding initiative was based on findings of the Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025, which is under the responsibility of the bureau.