KUCHING, Aug 23: The owner of the wall formerly painted with art showcasing baby orang-utans in a wheelbarrow is in the process of applying to Kuching North City Council (DBKU) for the use of the wall for advertisement purposes.
In a press release today, the owner of Nan Cheong Trading Sdn Bhd updated the latest development with regards to the usage of the wall.
“This press statement is to provide an update regarding the status of our application for advertisement permit relating to the beautification works on my wall which is in progress.
“Currently, we have submitted the application permit for advertisement and it is still pending process and consideration by DBKU.
“In the meantime, the beautification works on the wall will be completed for the pubic to enjoy, take pictures and selfies, which one day we hope will be a must-go spot for tourist to check-in,” said the press statement.
The wall facing the road of a double-storey shophouse located at No 74-76, India street, 93718 Kuching which Nan Cheong Trading Sdn Bhd has claimed ownership has come into the limelight after it was reported by DayakDaily that the much-loved mural had gone missing, following a reader’s complaint.
The report, titled ‘Where are the baby orang-utans?”, questioned the whereabouts of the mural after it was replaced by a gigantic text which read ‘Kuching’ in yellow, painted against a dark background.
The new but unfinished paintwork that illustrates alphabet balloons appears to be a product advertisement.
Following that, there were reactions from several quarters, including Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who expressed regret over the disappearance of a well-loved mural by both locals, national and international travellers.
This had led to the building owner of the wall coming forward to explain that the decision to lease out the wall was done in compliance with the law and with no ill intent, but to add beauty and to bring tourism value to this nostalgic part of the city.
Responding to the community’s shock over the cover-up of the orang-utan mural painted by Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic, he expressed regret that the issue has been used as what he termed to be ‘political hype’ and that its intention on re-beautification has been misunderstood as an act of vandalism.
Quoting Article 13 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, he said everyone has the right to use their own property.
“At that time, I allowed the mural of the orang-utan to beautify the city, and now it is for the same purpose. We should not be deprived of ownership of the wall of the double-storey shophouse just because we allowed the orang-utan mural on the wall before,” he said in a statement issued on July 12. — DayakDaily
