PDRM Takes Down “Humorous” Communist-Themed Wallpaper in Penang Eatery

By Karissa Lund  •  04 Jan 2021 in News

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According to The Star, police removed a wallpaper featuring famous communist leader, Mao Zedong after raiding a Penang restaurant, last Saturday (2 Jan).

The 764.5cm x 213cm wallpaper featured an image of Mao, a soldier holding a red book and a group of other soldiers. Police also seized four small cups bearing Mao’s face and detained a 23-year-old manager of the restaurant for further investigation.

Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Shafee Samad said that they acted on a public tip-off, and that police conducted an inspection at the premises at about 12:40 pm.

“A police team from D9 and D7 units as well as the district Special Branch visited the premises and thorough checks found several elements of communist ideology on a wallpaper in the restaurant dining area,” he said in a statement.

ACP Shafee said the investigation found that the restaurant is owned by a 41-year-old man and his Chinese national wife.

Recently, the wife explained that the posters had actually featured humorous depictions of the good food available in China’s Henan province and urged that the posters did not contain any messages of the communist ideology.

She also noted that the wallpaper carried funny Chinese phrases and was meant to welcome patrons.

“Sometimes, our customers also take pictures with the wallpaper in the background. It only serves as a decoration,” she said.

As for now, the owner has not been questioned by police as he is currently undergoing Covid-19 quarantine in Penang.

The case is being investigated under Section 47 of the Societies Act for publishing propaganda of an unlawful society and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making, publishing or circulating any statement with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, alarm to the public.