After reading and considering the numerous negative reactions and growing anger reported by the various news outlets against the demolition of the famous sculpture Puncak Purnama (Lunar Peaks) located at Laman Arca Puncak Purnama at Jalan Kg Attap (opposite of Takaful building) by the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), I have decided to make a formal police report against the officer(s) of DBKL who are responsible for advising and authorizing the demolition of one of Malaysia’s most unique sculptures by a great Malaysian artist, the National Art Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal (1929-2011). 

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/07/02/dbkl-demolishes-puncak-purnama-destruction-of-sculpture-shocks-art-fraternity/

 

http://www.timeout.com/kuala-lumpur/blog/puncak-purnama-sculpture-demolished-070416

 

http://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/tindakan-dbkl-roboh-arca-puncak-purnama-dikecam-109899

 

https://malaysiadateline.com/index.php/berita-list/20-headline/3498-seniman-marah-dbkl-robohkan-puncak-purnama (dead link)

 

http://www.artitute.com/2016/07/08/kuala-lumpur-city-hall-authorities-demolish-important-public-art-work/ (dead link) 

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Under the watch of the new Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, the Lunar Peaks monument was quietly demolished by DBKL, a process which took a few days beginning on the 29th /30th  June 2016. DBKL has acted in bad faith by choosing to deal with the sculpture in a most destructive way AND later justified their ignoble actions with reasons that would make us a laughing stock in the eyes of the first world countries.

 

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/lunar-peaks-becoming-an-eyesore-had-to-be-demolished-ku-nan-says#sthash.sRPGOVk0.dpuf

 

http://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/puncak-purnama-tidak-salah-meroboh-arca-milik-penuh-dbkl-110097

 

http://www.sinarharian.com.my/edisi/selangor-kl/arca-puncak-purnama-diroboh-struktur-tidak-selamat-1.539125

 

http://www.agendadaily.com/Muka-Hadapan/penjelasan-tengku-adnan-mengenai-keputusan-roboh-arca-puncak-purnama%E2%80%A6.html

 

https://www.bnbbc.my/arca-puncak-purnama-milik-dbkl/

 

http://www.karangkraf.com/berita/arca-puncak-purnama-diroboh-struktur-tidak-selamat-1.539125

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http://www.themalaymailonline.com/projekmmo/article/musnahkan-arca-puncak-purnama-dbkl-dakwa-ada-hak

 

5 years after the resolution of the legal case brought by the late artist against DBKL- 

http://www.apaaonline.org/pdf/APAA_59th_council_meeting_Manila/CopyrightCommitteeReports2011/2-MALAYSIA-CopyrightCommitteeReport2011.pdf

 

DBKL had again acted irresponsibly by not seeking professional advice from relevant authorities including the National Board of Visual Arts Development which is the highest national body and custodian of the country’s visual arts. DBKL also did not bother to seek the views of other relevant parties including the Malaysian Architecture Association (Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia) , academicians and specialist in related areas. Furthermore, DBKL also lack the courtesy and decency to inform the family of the late Datuk Syed Ahamd Jamal of their decision which has now caused much pain, shame and anguish.  

 

http://malaysiagazette.com/ms/nasional/arca-puncak-purnama-lpsvn-mahu-jumpa-perdana-menteri

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2016/07/05/puncak-purnama-could-have-been-restored/

 

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/2016/07/05/siapa-rumuskan-arca-puncak-purnama-sakitkan-mata-soal-badan-arkitek/

 

http://www.propertyguru.com.my/property-news/2016/7/129821/kls-national-heritage-demolished

 

http://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/arca-puncak-purnama-waris-syed-ahmad-jamal-luah-perasaan-sedih-110090

 

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/demolition-of-lunar-peaks-destroyed-late-national-art-laureates-legacy-son

 

Art is an important aspect of any civilization that aspires to be great. Malaysia organizes and hosts a number of yearly art events and competitions where some also involves the participation of regional and international . Some of these events include-Art Expo Malaysia at MATRADE, 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism or 1MCAT (Tourism Malaysia), George Town Art Festival (Pulau Pinang), Langkawi Art Biennale (Pulau Langkawi), Bakat Muda Sezaman national competition, Malaysia Emerging Artists competition, Shah Alam Gallery’s Open Show competition (Selangor) and the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Biennale in 2017.

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Private corporations too are organizing competitions and exhibitions. They include-United Oversea’s Bank (OUB) art competition, Tanjung Heritage art competition and Nando’s Art Initiative competition. Also a number of embassies (South America, East and west Europe and South East Asia) and institutions including the below regularly organizes or hosts exhibitions by local and foreign artists to foster closer relations between governments and art practitioners. These bodies are the following- British Council, Australian Embassy, Indian High Commission, American Embassy, Japan Foundation, Goethe Institute , Alliance Francaisce and Soka Gakkai.

Malaysia has over the years steadily developed a reputation for its contemporary art as evident with the increasing number of Malaysian art practitioners being invited to participate in renown international and regional art events and festivals organized in the following countries- Venice, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Chine, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Dubai, Austria etc.

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The thoughtless actions taken by the DBKL officers in charge of this matter are unbecoming of civil servants who should serve the best interest of the people and maintain the good name of the agency and the country. If their irresponsible and perceived arrogant actions go unpunished, it will cause harmful implications to the local art industry in the long run.

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http://epaper.mmail.com.my/2016/07/04/the-tragedy-of-demolishing-puncak-purnama/

 

http://www.star2.com/culture/arts/2016/07/05/lunar-peaks-kls-beloved-public-sculpture-must-rise-from-ruins/

 

http://hariannews.com/2016/07/04/puncak-purnama-antara-sakit-mata-mata-sakit/

 

http://malaysianreview.com/164878/roboh-puncak-purnama-tindakan-sombong-haprak/

 

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/07/156781/sculpture-destruction-akin-criminal-act

 

http://www.theheatmalaysia.com/Main/Malaysia-s-own-cultural-cleansing

 

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/a-government-devoid-of-social-and-moral-values-raja-bahrin-shah

 

http://www.beritaharianmetro.net/2016/07/02/puncak-purnama-pelukis-saiful-razman-gesa-seniman-tanah-air-buat-laporan-polis/

 

This police report is made against the DBKL officers in charge of this area based on the following reasons-    

 

Presenting a false impression that the Malaysian government does not recognize, respect or protect works of art and will even actively participate in the destruction of art works deemed ‘old’, an ‘eyesore’, ‘bothersome’ (and even the ludicrous excuse that any neglected works can become a den to drug abusers!)

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Undermine the efforts of art workers in contributing to the civilization and economy of a modern society like Malaysia by dismissing and destroying works of art without seeking professional advice from relevant individuals, authorities and institutions of art.  

 

Giving the false impression to private and public individuals and institutions that they now have the ‘right’ to destroy any artworks in their possession with the flimsiest excuses regardless of artistic, cultural or historical significance to the country. 

 

Disregard the pain, shame and mental anguish it may caused to the artists, their families or those in related professions.      

 

Giving a potentially false impression that collecting art and commissioning art works are not a reliable form of investment with profitable returns or as a worthwhile  cultural contribution as it could be dismissed or disposed of based on the above points.

 

Discouraging artists and future generations from pursuing art practices and participating in the local art industry as their outputs and contributions are deemed worthless thus encouraging the decline of Malaysian visual arts practices.   

   

As an Malaysian cultural worker, I regard their reckless actions as a wanton assault on the moral rights and artistic integrity of Malaysian arts promoters, historians and practitioners in particular and will have extremely harmful implications to the development of Malaysian arts in the future.

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