KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — The son of the late National Art Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal Syed Jamil Sahil said today the demolition of the Puncak Purnama (Lunar Peaks) sculpture on Jalan Sultan Sulaiman last week had destroyed his father’s legacy.

In a press conference at the National Visual Arts Gallery, Syed Nabil Syed Ahmad Jamal said that he was very disappointed with City Hall’s actions.

“It is a very sad thing. And the fact that they did it in a way that people cannot stop them or find out why... that was not a very good way. I want them to explain the reason why they did it that way,” he said.

“When he was alive, he was a national laureate. But when he passed away, people destroyed his legacy,” Syed Nabil added.

He said there have been discussions with his lawyer on what to do next but it is too early to decide on anything at the moment.

National Visual Arts Gallery chairman Datuk Mahadzir Lokman questioned why City Hall did not inform them of the demolition.

“It was painful, it feels like watching the Statue of Liberty being pulled down. And we are aggrieved, why are we not being informed? You can tell us and we can arrange for relocation, but that was not done,” Mahadzir said.

He added they will try to seek an explanation from the Prime Minister and City Hall on the issue.

Last Friday, The Star reported that the sculpture built by late Syed Ahmad Jamal was seen being demolished by City Hall.

Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said City Hall had received complaints about 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 KL 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.