YOURSAY 'We are long past the point where Johor authorities can pretend the crime situation there is under control.'

JB to remove 'inappropriate' mural by foreign artist

Apolitical Observer: We have been taught, since childhood, to be polite in other people's house especially when we are their guest. We look for nice things and compliment them for that.

There are sure to be unpleasant things too but we are not supposed to comment on that since we are their guest. Of course, we can comment on it if we are requested to do so.

Lithuanian-born artist Ernest Zacharevic is utterly impolite. It is unbecoming of a good painter to use his God-given talent to showcase something unpleasant about your host when you are a guest. There are many beautiful things in Johor Bahru that he can choose to show.

I wouldn't mind a Malaysian to draw such a thing even on my boundary wall, but I will certainly object a foreigner doing that.

This is an insult and to those Malaysians who painted such image about JB, they are a bunch of shameless and ungrateful citizens.

Annon77: The truth hurts, eh? Of course, they would ask Zacharevic to remove the mural. It's third world mentality for a third world state.

Is it an artist's job to contribute to state tourism? No one with any artistic integrity would do a PR (public relation) piece that spreads lies.

SomebodyElse: Snatch-thief, robbery, kidnaping, rap music and many more is a common sight and sound in Malaysia.

Zacharevic is just putting all the facts into art, which I think is very creative. We should have more people like him coming out to express the truth.

AnakJohor1920: Bravo! Such artistic paintings should be painted more and in many housing estates with very high crime rates. Even the police no longer frequently patrol the housing estates anymore after GE13.

These artistic paintings painted at strategic places can send a strong and clear message to everyone to take care of themselves as the Johor police are too busy taking care of BN politicians.

Before GE13, residents in Johor Bahru signed a 100,000-strong petition and handed it to then MB Abdul Gani Othman but nothing comes out of it. Fellow Johoreans, you are on your own now. So take care of your own safety.

CucuMalaysia: The artist must pretend that JB is like its successful southern neighbour where its streets are very safe. Then only his paintings will receive 200 percent approval.

P Dev Anand Pillai: This is the quality of our governance, they seemed ready to take action to remove a mural but are very ineffective when it comes to keeping the streets safe.

It is indeed a very shameful state of affairs for Malaysia for it takes a foreigner to come here to paint murals in order to send the message to the ‘idiocrats' in power.

SomebodyElse: I think the paintings go very well with the current situation in Johor, and Malaysia overall. There is nothing we can do to hide the fact about the rising crime rate.

Kit P: We are long past the point where Johor authorities can pretend the crime situation there is under control.

Even the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi openly says serious crime is out of control when it serves his political self-interest, such as trying to push through another law empowering detention without trial.

Commentable: As the adage old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. It is just how you interpret it.

For me, the mural is a cute way of reminding Malaysians to be careful of our belongings when walking alone.

In similar ways, DBKL (City Hall) in the federal capital has put up clear signboards in various parts of the city reminding the public to be careful of snatch thieves and pickpockets.

Would the mural be any different from what these signboards intended to function albeit in an alternative way?

Or does it mean that Johor Bahru City Council is overly sensitive about the subject of crime because it may be a true reflection on the ground and thus nobody should ever bring it up for fear that it will tarnish a city that is already heavily tarnished?

That's why Zacharevic is absolutely correct: "Art does not damage a city's image, crime does".

So to guys like JB city mayor Ismail Karim and Johor executive councillor Tee Siew Keong, have a good thought about it and don't turn this issue into yet another laughing stock of the world.

Rubystar_4037: Excellent comment from 'commentable', The mural is an very good example of warning to foreigners and visitors from other states that everywhere is not safe.

Ah, maybe PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) is professionally jealous that Zacharevic is trying to steal their thunder.

Lynn: The artist needs to understand that in Malaysia, we are in a permanent state of denial. Deny and lie enough times and one day people will believe despite the harsh truth.

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