The mural, which is 11.8 metres tall and 9.45 metres wide, displayed the portrait of 7-year-old Nur Najwa Alisyah Abdul Rashid and her 3-year-old sister Nur Najiyah Armani.

It was painted by Russian muralist Julia Volchkova at a cost of RM100,000 and took 12 days to complete.

Johor Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee Chairman Tee Siow Kiong said the project proved that there exists good cooperation between local residents and the state government to develop the district.

“Muar is commonly known for its delicious delicacies and historical sites, but now it has a new tourism product, which is so creative and innovative,” he told reporters at the presentation of the MBOR recognition for the “Largest Mural Portrait” by MBOR chairman Christopher Wong yesterday.

Meanwhile, the father of the two sisters, Abdul Rashid Abdul Bakar, 29, said he was proud, but had never expected that his daughters would give such an inspiration to the muralist.

“I found out that the portrait of my daughters was painted on the wall when the organisers came to see us last night to invite us to this event.

“When my friends were talking about it on social media, I didn’t think that the portrait would be of my girls,” he said.

Abdul Rashid, who works at an advertising company here, said Volchkova had approached him and asked for permission to take a picture of the girls when she saw them at the Tanjung Emas playground a few months ago.

“I never thought she would paint their pictures on a wall … she said she was just looking for inspiration,” he said, adding that the girls were inseparable and could always be found together.