The F1 party which was a F9 flop
Stylo - not so stylo after all
Given that it takes an estimated investment of US$150 million to host the F1 race, more thought and stringent screening should have been applied towards the selection of the organizer in the celebration party. Especially given the high profile media angle that will be bestowed upon the event.
STB’s Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive , Mr Lim Neo Chian, said the F1 was a “world-class event that could inject even more positive energy to Singapore”.
“Each season of F1 races attracts more than 500 million viewers worldwide. It is the third-most watched sporting event in the world after the Olympics and World Cup. More importantly, F1 appeals to all segments of society.”
“The Singapore F1 Grand Prix will attract an annual turnout of over 80,000 spectators, a large proportion of whom are expected to be visitors. During the race period, spectators do tend to spend on retail and F&B, especially those in the vicinity of the race venue. After the races, they will carry on partying and the various restaurants and nightspots all around Singapore, not just the Marina Bay area, stand to benefit from the many team receptions and after-race parties that will be hosted.”
And yet, Stylo, tasked as the event organizer of Stylo Fashion Grand Prix (SFGP), failed to deliver. Dick Lee, creative director of Stylo, might have pulled off a mean feat in the execution of the fashion show, but the other logistical nightmares that entailed signalled a major F9 flop.
Unexplainable screw ups
Simple valeting was badly mangled. Guests’ car keys were mixed up. Patricia Mok’s *friend’s car key was found in another guest’s car. Tell me how that happened.
One would also expect no less than a gourmet food layout for such a glamorous event, but well heeled guests like Celine Tan, a local socialite, was put off by the paltry offering of packet nasi lemak for the guests.
Background on Stylo
STYLO hosts the KL Fashion Festival for Malaysian designers to showcase their work. Other than their local fashion festivals, it does not have any experience in hosting other international or major events.
According to The Star (a Malaysian paper), even their core business of hosting the fashion festival was questionable - the 2007 Stylo festival drew flak for being poorly organized.
The person behind Stylo
Datuk Nancy Yeoh is the “president and CEO” of Stylo as cited in the website profile. In an interview with the New Paper in July this year, she openly admitted that she pulled strings to get into the London circuit - by asking her friend, Datuk Jimmy Choo (yes, that Jimmy Choo of the famous shoe fame) to “open doors and introduce (her) to people”.
It is perfectly fine to leverage on title and “who you know” to pull strings. It is quite another matter to deliver after the deal lands on your plate.
Datuk Yeoh was also interviewed on the local news channel. Her surprisingly poor command of language and poise made me wonder as to how she managed to clinch such a major project and if she did have the caliber to steer the direction of such a project.
I hate to be proven right in this instance but the party on Friday night sadly did so.
Accountability
The question remains now is - who awarded the project to Stylo? On what basis did it justify the awarding to Stylo? Who is to be accountable for the faux pas?
*edit - Thanks to Jo (reader) for the heads up. The car key did not belong to Pat Mok but was her friend’s.
[...] I am not going to dwell on the mistakes of the organizer because Rachel, a fellow blogger, had summarized it pretty extensively in her recent post. All of which, her points, I had to [...]
This is an outright attack on the Malaysians. It’s so obvious with these comments stated herein that neither you nor anyone in support of your comments are doing any fairness to the organisers of the event.
Unexplainable screw ups:
For everyone’s information, the valets are SINGAPOREANS. If ever you are not sure how Singaporeans can be, what you saw that night is proof that us Singaporeans are not that polished or cultured afterall.
In a fit for cheap publicity, Patricia Mok had to add in a thing or two for some 2min fame, further enhancing our brand of being Kiasu. Thanks Pat. We really needed that.
In terms of food, I do believe that gourment food in the form of canapes were served. Nasi Lemak was for supper, so unless you’re into supper, don’t complain.
Background on Stylo:
If you had done your research or read a bit more, you would know that Stylo just started this yr in 2008. Whatever fashion festival you are talking about sure didn’t happen in 2007. Again, showing how well informed we Singaporeans are in our facts. Sigh…
The day that you can pull strings to do something better than this, then feel free to comment. And believe you me, Dato Nancy Yeoh, definitely speaks better than you can write about something you don’t know enough to comment.
As a fellow citizen who attended the event, I would say that we did not give them Malaysians a fair chance, but rather, started to pick on their every move, faulting out what we can to undermine them so that we Singaporeans can look good. (but ended up quite the opposite.)
This is not what we Singaporeans are like and I’m ashamed that everyone out there showed our visitors exactly what we’re not.
Is it because they are Malaysians that we gone our of our way to reject them? Not only is this an attack on the organiser, but on Malaysia as a whole.
If truly we are an arrogant, incoherent, obnoxious lot, than you just proved it. Unless we can be better than them, we don’t have the right to blatantly criticise Stylo for an otherwise, event well done.
MM
What utter rubbish. I have not once skewed the angle of my article towards Malaysians - and it is an insult when that you try to make this a Singaporean vs Malaysian mudsling, when clearly it is not. This was never about nationalism - and I don’t see how the “misunderstanding” came about when it is crystal clear.
In the interview with the reporter from The Star, it was reported that the previous festival drew criticism and flak and Datuk Yeoh herself promised that the next one in 2008 will be better organized.
Personally I do not believe in pulling strings to get opportunities so that point of yours is moot. Also, I know a poor command of language when I see it, so please do not presume to tell me how much I know. On the other hand, if you had said that Datuk Yeoh had substance but she could not articulate well in English, I would perhaps agree.
I welcome an alternative view or opinion, but I do not appreciate being accused of being anti Malaysia and of your claiming that I “pick on their every move, faulting out what we can to undermine them so that we Singaporeans can look good.” I would also prefer it that it be phrased civilly and with thought and reason.
just to clarify, i think the car key discovered in another car belongs to Pat Mok’s friend.i read it from the papers who quoted her blog
but i do agree that such mess should not occur at all, especially at an event of such magnitude and exclusivity.
Many thanks to Jo for the heads up! I have changed it accordingly.
I somehow think that MM is the organiser of Stylo.
Hello unless you are saying that the press reports of the event are untrue, then you need to take a step back and chill!
A bad event is a bad event, no two ways about it!
How can an event with so much hype of being high class and so on run out of drinks and serve such low class food? Maybe high society in Malaysia enjoy this sort of fare, but I have news for the organisers of Stylo, this is not Malaysia but Singapore. Maybe you guys should have done your homework!
Terrible!!
On who brought them to Singapore, that is a very interesting question. Believe it or not, it was the Singapore Tourism Board.
Can you believe that??? The board actually brought amatures to run such a prestigious event??? The regional director even went on record to say that he was impressed with Stylo in Malaysia.
Makes you question his judgement. Imagine the whole world is on Singapore and we have the tourism board bring in this bunch of clowns to F*** up the event. Makes you wonder if there was any hanky panky.
Makes you wonder if the Tourism Board supported Stylo with $$??
Hmmmmm. Maybe the tourism board should look to sue Stylo???
As we as tax payers supporting the tourism board??
http://www.mmail.com.my/A_Malaysian_fashion_invasion.aspx
Think for the future the Tourism Board should be more stringent on who they hire to organise events. For such high flying events, hire professionals!!
Xtralicious, I think your comments were fair and you were just telling it like it is.
There is a malay saying that means - those who eat the chili will feel the spicyness!
Sixty: Thanks for sharing.
STB is being just another government agency - blinded by inconsequential things like title fanaticism and deceptive fanfare.
Sadly, even a one day event could not be done well.
I was nonplussed that my criticism of a event planned poorly could be twisted into a nationalistic provocation.
Sounds like a bunch of immature people who is trying to play the nationalistic card.
Thats why I am comvinced that MM is the organiser.
Well whatever right?
Think there needs to be a watch dog to over see the activities of the STB!
sixty: When I last met Ken Lee from STB, he was very proud to declare that STB “throws the most fabulous parties in town”. Sigh.
I was there during the event and in all fairness, I think the media and the critics are being too hard on the organisers. Of course, the valet incident was unfortunate and should have been avoided. But otherwise, while not thoroughly impressed, I didn’t think the critics are a bit too harsh.
Overall, I think the event went alright (although I thought the fashion showcase was a tad too lengthy). I still saw a lot of guests having fun during the event, and the band for the after-party was excellent.
With regards to the food being served during the event, I would have to say that the whole “Nasi Lemak” thing was exaggerated. I did see some other food on display and being served by waiters. Nasi Lemak was just an option, probably to add a “Malaysian” touch to the event.
I disagree with MM on your article being a blatant attack on Malaysians. MM, I don’t see your point in bringing up the fact that the valets were Singaporeans. So what if the valets were Singaporeans? Whether Malaysians or not, it is the organiser that has to take the blame for the inefficiency of the valet service.
However, I do have to disagree with you on the “pulling strings” bit. I think in the industry (or rather in the real world), I think its pretty understood that its not what you know, its who you know. Everybody at every level do it….from movie stars to business people. So if Nancy managed to pull strings to achieve what she did, props to her and it proves that she does have some influence within the industry.
TCMN: Which party were you at? From what I understood, there were two. Fash Hag from Urban attended one of the parties and the feedback was less than ideal too.
Like I said, nothing wrong with pulling strings to get the deal. But to fail to deliver after getting the deal is another story.
I was at the Stylo party. Like I said, I wasn’t thoroughly impressed but I think the criticisms from the media was abit too harsh. The only thing that went really wrong was the valet service.
Apologies as I missed out on your bit saying “It is quite another matter to deliver after the deal lands on your plate”. Yes, its a fair statement. I also agree that they should have done their homework before attempting to host an event in another country.
Sigh, should have, would have, could have!
Well there is still the F1 in Japan and Shanghai next. Guess Stylo improve there.
Or maybe already got rejected and ejected?
Just a word of advice, try not to serve packed nasi lemak at those places, maybe some designer sushi in Japan and designer dim sum at Shanghai.
Cant go wrong with that!!
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