We're sure you've seen the mural called 'COVID-19 Heroes' featuring the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah among others.

The mural was recently painted by 27-year-old local artist Muhammad Suhaimi Ali who better known as Miey Ali.

Busuknye hati ??? pic.twitter.com/9jOQDKwTgm

— Labu suka anak pak aji (@MrJamesLabu) July 20, 2020

The culprit or culprits had used red spray paint and painted the words 'babi' or pig and other vulgar wordings on the artwork.

Large red X marks were also spray-painted on some of the portraits.

Netizens shocked

Many Malaysians loved the artwork and netizens were shocked and angered when they found out that it had been vandalised.

Walaupun bukan aku yang lukis mural tu, hati aku hancur gila tengok bila karya pelukis dirosakkan macam tu je?

— ʟᴜɴᴀ ? (@urlunae) July 20, 2020

"Even though I did not draw the mural, my heart is broken just looking at how the work of the artist was destroyed just like that," tweeted user @urlunae.

If you hate someone, make it personal. Do not drag everyone into your hates. You drag the artist. This is sad and awful. To the artist, your mural is great. I appreciate your art. But this vandalism doesn't have love towards it. Whoever did this, you are not human.

— izzat jual instax film polaroid (@usernameizzat) July 20, 2020

Another Twitter user @usernameizzat wrote "If you hate someone, make it personal. Do not drag everyone into your hates. You drag the artist. This is sad and awful. To the artist, your mural is great. I appreciate your art. But this vandalism doesn't have love towards it. Whoever did this, you are not human."

Sedihnya pelukis dia. Dia ingat senang ke nak lukis mural? Kalau tak suka kerajaan bukan balas kat orang lain. benda ni effort pelukis tu.

— Adda | Dapur Comot (@AddaRamdzi) July 20, 2020

"How sad for the artist. Do these people think that it's easy to paint a mural? If you don't like the government, don't take it out on others. This is an effort by the artist," tweeted @AddaRamdzi.

Many also commented on Miey Ali's Facebook page but the artist himself has not said anything about the incident as yet.

It is understood that the police, local council officials and others are at the scene and will be looking into the matter.