Malang, en.SERU.co.id – The overpainting of the mural “Malang The Glory Land” with the new text “Malang Menyala Bersama” has sparked protests from a number of residents and communities in Malang City. In response to the public outcry, the Mbois Festival committee has apologized and promised to restore the “Malang The Glory Land” mural.
The protests arose because “Malang The Glory Land” marks a historic moment from 2016 and carries meaning for Aremania in Malang City. A number of netizens then questioned the reason for overpainting the mural that had long stood at the location. The repainting did not fully restore the originality of the work created since 2016.
One of the criticisms came from the Instagram account @arema_uthenlife. The account assessed that replacing the mural did not merely change the appearance of the wall but also erased the historical value and collective memory attached to the work.
“The historical value, the authenticity of the hand touch and the collective memory of many years died the moment new paint covered that wall,” the account wrote in its post.
Meanwhile, the Mbois Festival side delivered an apology through its official account. The committee acknowledged that the writing “Malang The Glory Land” holds a story and meaning for a number of parties in Malang City. The committee stated it would recreate the writing as a form of responsibility and respect for the previous work.
“We are committed to painting and recreating the writing ‘MALANG THE GLORY LAND’ as it was before,” the official statement from Festival Mbois read.
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MCF Coordinator Dadik Wahyu Chang delivered an apology through a video lasting about 26 seconds. In the video, Dadik said he did not know directly about the mural overpainting incident.
Based on inquiries, the overpainting of the mural on Jalan Arif Rahman Hakim in the area around Malang City Square took place on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, as part of the Festival Mbois 11 series.
He stated that he would communicate the issue with the team that worked on the mural. The statement was made after protests emerged from the public and communities.
The Mbois Festival committee also invited interested parties to take part in the process of repainting. They hope the matter can be resolved through communication and a spirit of togetherness.
For information, Festival Mbois 11 this year carries the theme “Malang Menyala” at Gajayana Stadium, Malang City, from Friday to Sunday, 21–23 August 2026. (ws15/rhd)
Indonesian Version:
Panitia Festival Mbois Minta Maaf, Janji Kembalikan Mural ‘Malang The Glory Land’
