By: Zaki Salleh
BATU GAJAH: An 80-metre mural now adorns the walls of the Batu Gajah Correctional Centre, adding colour and artistic depth to the facility, thanks to the creative collaboration between Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perak Branch’s Faculty of Art & Design and local authorities.
The artwork, completed over six days, was a joint effort involving the Batu Gajah District Council (MDBG), UiTM Seri Iskandar Campus, and the correctional centre itself.
This initiative marks the third mural project undertaken by a team from the Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Art & Design (FSSR), under the MDBG National Grant scheme.
Led by Associate Professor Dr Azian Tahir, the project ran from February 15 to 21, involving nine lecturers, four alumni and 12 students.
The mural, themed “Shaping Productive Individuals Through Preventive Education”, aims to shift public perception of correctional facilities, portraying prisons not just as places of detention, but also as centres for education and second chances.
Visually, the mural unfolds like a narrative, starting with the historical evolution of Malaysian prisons, including key landmarks such as Fort Cornwallis Prison (1790) and Taiping Prison (1879).
It continues with depictions of doves flying out of a cage, symbolising freedom, alongside scenes representing the development of character and skills among inmates.
Floral imagery also plays a key role, with lilies signifying freedom, dignity, and transformation.
The Ixora flower, MDBG’s official bloom, is prominently featured to reinforce local identity and complete the composition.
The mural was officially launched by Kinta District Officer Zulhisham Ahmad Shukori and was also attended by Batu Gajah District Council President Mohamad Razif Ramli and Perak State Prisons Director Deputy Commissioner C. Charin Promwichit.
