City Hall organises bin center, public toilet mural drawing contest
KOTA KINABALU: Original Sabahan street art has made the city public toilets and bin centers interesting enough to be tourist attractions.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said people were willing to line up just to take pictures with interesting mural street art and post them on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
“Looking at these developments, DBKK (Kota Kinabalu City Hall) as the local authority has not been left behind and has taken the initiative to spruce up the city by holding a mural painting program at Segama Bridge and Atkison Clock Tower, and also organizing a bin center and public toilet mural drawing contest,” said Christina when launching the DBKK Kota Kinabalu Bin Art Trail and Bin Center and Public Toilet Mural Drawing Competition prize presentation ceremony at DBKK Building here Thursday
“The street mural paintings are painted on stairs and what is more daring is that it is drawn on bin centers and public toilets. This bold action has transformed this place from a revolting to a beautiful place to capture pictures.
“This action is at the same time giving responsibility to all city residents or bin center users and public toilets to keep clean on the premises and most proudly these mural paintings are done by 100% original Sabahans,” she added.
Christina, who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, called upon the government agencies, private sector, education centers and non-governmental organizations to get on board with the street art mural trend and urged DBKK and other agencies to transform the shoplot back alleys in the city into a clean, safe and properly lit area so they could be another tourist attraction here.
She also called upon the people to not scribble on the mural art paintings in the city.
Fiaso’ Art Gallery members, Abdullah Ehlid and Azlie Luli, took home the champion prize of RM3,000 whilst the Kotak Mimpi group, Josrie Haral, Intan Munirah and Nashrul, and Murnie Liana and Fakhrunddin Mohd Yaakub bagged the RM2,000 and RM1,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, Double J, Kentan Art, KK Splash Squad, Phey, and Fiaso’ Art Gallery groups pocketed RM500 each for their mural street painting.
During the ceremony, Christina also presented the Tourism Promotion Organization (TPO) for Asia Pacific Cities Best Tourism Industry Leader Award to Datuk Tan Kok Liang, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president.
DBKK nominated Tan for his outstanding contribution to the tourism industry and accepted the award on behalf of the tourism industry player on June 22, 2018 in Vietnam.
Earlier the same day, Christina extended RM100,000 out of her Api Api assemblyman’s fund to the 61-year-old SRK Sacred Heart Kota Kinabalu after learning that the toilets for some 500 students there will be flooded during the rainy session.
She urged the school to demolish the old toilets and build new ones on higher grounds starting December so works can be done before the new school session next year.