KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 — The wall painting in Ipoh depicting an old man drinking from a teacup will not be changed despite claims that it was the likeness former Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng, the Ipoh City Council said today
The city council insisted that it has clarified that the larger-than-life mural located at the side of an OLDTOWN White Coffee branch facing the Ipoh Padang was not of Chin Peng, who had gained notoriety for leading a communist insurgency between 1948 to 1960.
“The city council did not issue or give any statement to redo the painting… it has nothing to do with Chin Peng,” said said the council’s tourism officer Shahrul Nizam.
Chin Peng, who was born in Sitiawan, Perak, had led the outlawed Communist Party of Malaya. He died in exile on September 16 last year.
Shahrul told Malay Mail Online that the mural by Ernest Zacharevic was inspired by a Ipoh local, who had operated the sky lift to assist the famed street artist when he had started painting mural.
“The artist had clarified this and we have YouTube video to prove it,” said Shahrul.
Citing an unnamed source from the Ipoh City Council, Sinar Harian reported yesterday that the local authority will discuss with Zacharevic on having the mural modified.
According to the Malay daily, the council was “mindful” of the possibility that there are some who may find it offensive.
Zacharevic grew famous here several years ago with a series of wall art in George Town, Penang. The project was part of the George Town Festival 2012.
His work including the whimsical “Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur”, poignant “Boy on a Bike” and joyful “Little Children on a Bicycle” continue to draw crowds of people every day.
Zacharevic’s other famous wall art featured in the former mining city includes a hummingbird, two children sitting on a paper plane, three packets of “kopi-o” and one of how Ipoh has evolved from its tin mining days.
In November last year, Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) painted over a wall mural by Zacharevic in the Johor capital that had featured a knife-wielding LEGO figure resembling a mugger lurking around the corner in wait for a LEGO woman carrying a “Chanel” handbag.
