IPOH: The famous Air Kopi O Ikat Tepi mural by London-trained Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic has been demolished to make way for the construction of a hotel in Jalan Tun Sambanthan here.
The mural, which showcased the popular way coffee is served in Malaysia in plastic bags tied with a string, not only beautified the run-down building but became a popular tourist attraction with people taking pictures of it for their selfies and social media posts.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said there were two murals at the proposed hotel development site with one which involved Zacharevic's art work in Jalan Tun Sambanthan and another artist's mural in Jalan Panglima.
Rumaizi said the artist had never made any application to the council regarding the mural painting.
"The agreement to paint the mural was between the artist and the owner of the building wall, without involving Ipoh City Council.
"As such, it is appropriate and not an offence for the owner to demolish the lot unit that has the mural illustration for the continued development of the Heritage Hotel here in accordance with the Ipoh Town Special Area Plan (RKK) 2020, Tin Ore Heritage City," he said when contacted today.
Rumaizi, however, acknowledged that the mural had become one of the attractions in Ipoh and had helped to promote the city.
"What should be the priority? Is it to prioritise the mural of the notable artist whose paintings have helped in promoting Ipoh's tourism or develop Ipoh in line with development of sustainability and heritage at the national and international levels?"
Several pictures of the demolished mural were shared on social media and many had voiced their frustration over the move.
Besides Air Kopi O Ikat Tepi, Zacharevic painted six other murals in Ipoh since 2014. They are Old Town Relieves Nostalgia with Trishaw in Jalan Shala; Tin Mining Town With Chinese-Style Painting in Jalan Bijeh Timah; Yellow Hummingbird in Jalan Panglima; Girl on a Wall in Jalan Bandar Timah; Paper Plane in Jalan Sheikh Adam and Old Uncle Drinking Coffee in Jalan Dato Maharajalela.