KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — The Puncak Purnama (Lunar Peaks) sculpture on Jalan Sultan Sulaiman had to be demolished as it was old and beyond repair, according to Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said City Hall had received complaints against the sculpture from the public and decided it was better to tear it down.

“We had to demolish it because it was too old, and there was no way to improve the condition of the sculpture,” he told reporters after launching the new tunnel on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (Jalan Duta).

“Demolition was the best option as it was becoming an eyesore and we did not want it to be bothersome to the people.”

According to The Star yesterday, the sculpture built by late National Art Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal Syed Jamil Sahil was seen being demolished by City Hall.

Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor says City Hall had received complaints against the sculpture from the public and decided it was better to tear it down.
Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor says City Hall had received complaints against the sculpture from the public and decided it was better to tear it down.

Lunar Peaks was commissioned by the United Malayan Banking Corporation and was completed in 1986 when it was then presented to City Hall.

The sculpture made headlines again in 2010, when Syed Ahmad Jamal won a civil suit against the mayor who had carried out modifications to the sculpture without notifying him or seeking his consent in 2000.

In its decision later, the High Court ordered the mayor to pay Syed Ahmad RM750,000 in damages.

Syed Ahmad Jamal died at the age of 81 in 2011.