PETALING JAYA, Aug. 18 -- Standing almost five storeys tall, a stoic owl keeps watch over Petaling Jaya New Town.

Those who frequent the area will know it's not a real bird but a striking mural of a great horned owl perched in its nest, painted on a multi-level car park near Menara MBPJ.

The mural was first commissioned by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) as part of an urban beautification project.

But the bird -a cultural symbol of guidance and intuition -has since become more than just street art.

It doubles as a landmark for people who tend to be forgetful, and for those now living with early-onset dementia.

"The painted murals serve various purposes but our initial intention was not to create dementia-friendly spaces per se....