Street art of Malaysia’s leaders scrubbed clean after vandals spray-paint profanities

The completed murals of the Agong and Noor Hisham (left) and the murals after they were vandalized. Photos: Muhammad Suhaimi Ali /Facebook and @MrJamesLabu /Twitter
The completed murals of the Agong and Noor Hisham (left) and the murals after they were vandalized. Photos: Muhammad Suhaimi Ali /Facebook and @MrJamesLabu /Twitter

The vandalized murals of Malaysia’s leaders were scrubbed clean this afternoon after they were reportedly spray-painted with profanities earlier in the morning.  

The murals by artists Muhammad Suhaimi Ali, Abdul Hadi Ramli, and Muhamad Firdaus Nordin located on one of the walls of Taman Cahaya Alam in the Shah Alam district had depicted Malaysia’s Agong Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and Health Director-General Noor Hisham. 

This morning, they were splattered with red paint and derogatory words like “babi” (“pig”) and “bangsat” (“son of a bitch”).

Authorities covering up the artwork before removal. Photo: @MrJamesLabu /Twitter
Authorities covering up the artwork before removal. Photo: @MrJamesLabu /Twitter

Portraits of Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Islamic Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad, however, were untouched, a video by Twitter user @MrJamesLabu showed. But the whole artwork, measuring roughly 10m long, has been removed. 

Cleaners remove mural of Malaysia’s leaders as photographers look on. Photo: Muhammad Suhaimi Ali /Facebook
Cleaners remove mural of Malaysia’s leaders as photographers look on. Photo: Muhammad Suhaimi Ali /Facebook

The murals went up three weeks ago as a tribute to the nation’s “COVID-19 heroes.” Noor Hisham and the Agong had also taken photos with their respective portraits. 

One of the artists behind the artwork took to social media to express disappointment over the vandals.

“I’m sorry, there are no more murals for everyone to take photos with,” Suhaimi, 27, said, sharing photos of the wall previously adorned with his work. 

Other stories to check out:

Francis Light statue in Penang splashed with red paint

5 Malaysian cabinet ministers have yet to declare assets: Muhyiddin Yassin



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