Ernest Zacharevic’s Air Kopi O Ikat Tepi was demolished to make way for a hotel on Jalan Tun Sambanthan.
The painting, which depicted how coffee is served in Malaysia in plastic bags tied with strings, became a popular tourist spot, with people taking selfies and uploading them on social media.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said there were two paintings at the proposed hotel site: Zacharevic’s in Jalan Tun Sambanthan and another in Jalan Panglima. Rumaizi said the mural’s painting was the result of an agreement between the artist and the building’s owner, without the Ipoh City Council’s involvement, and that the artist had never made an application for it.
According to the Ipoh Town Special Area Plan (RKK) 2020, Tin Ore Heritage City, the owner’s decision to remove the mural-containing lot unit is not an offence.
Image Source For Kopi O Ikat Tepi Mural: William Ng
