The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) had ordered the advertiser, Communication Superhighway Sdn Bhd (CSSB), to remove the controversial billboard.

The billboard was believed to have been erected several weeks ago.

On Jan 13, the Home Ministry rejected Falun Gong’s application to register as a society.

Falun Gong, which originated in China, has also been denounced by the Chinese authorities.

MBJB Road and Traffic chief Zainuddin Samad said there was no record which showed that the advertiser had obtained a permit to put up the billboard beside the North-South Expressway.

“Falun Gong is not registered in the country.

“The billboard is, therefore, illegal and has to be taken down.

“It has been put up probably because the advertiser had mixed it up with other billboard advertisements,” he said.

The billboard, promoting the activities and official website of the controversial Chinese spiritual movement, showed a huge picture of members practising meditation.

The words Falun Dafa Baik (Falun’s Teachings are Good) in Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese were also shown on the billboard.

The New Straits Times, which published a news report on the billboard on Monday, was alerted about it by several motorists who complained about its presence.

They wanted to know how the authorities approved the construction of the billboard as the movement was not recognised by the Government.