KK mall's 'mini to mighty' Christmas tree stunt kicks off charity drive

SOCIAL media was abuzz last week over a lone, 1m-tall fully decorated Christmas tree that appeared in the heart of Centre Point Sabah’s Palm Square in Kota Kinabalu.

Some joked that the mall lacked the budget for a larger tree, while others thought it was a jab at another mall that displayed a 2.5m tree in its atrium.

The buzz escalated when, just two days later, the tree "grew" to five times its height as users jokingly speculated on what fertiliser it used to see such rapid growth.

The mall's public relations executive Meredith Madani said the tiny tree's "growth spurt" was a gimmick to launch its Gifts of Joy Donation Drive on Saturday (Dec 7).

“We found the public’s comments amusing. The mini tree was put up on Wednesday (Dec 4) to draw attention and serve as a placeholder while we completed other decorations.

“We did not expect such a quick reaction from netizens. While there were negative comments, we took no offence... many were positive too,” she said when met recently.

The mall even planned to place a tiny snowman next to the diminutive tree, but decided to hold back so as not to "escalate" things, she added.

The first tree was replaced with a 4.57m (15ft) tree on Friday (Dec 6) ahead of the donation drive's launch.

Madani said the public is encouraged to donate new or pre-loved toys and books in good condition for children in need.

“We hope to help these children fulfil their dreams. There’s no better time to create magic than during the festive season,” Madani said.

The collected items will also be used to create fun corners for children and parents at various centres around the city, with locations to be announced soon, according to Madani.

The 34-year-old shopping mall, one of the city's oldest, has transformed its space into a whimsical wonderland with a toy factory theme.