It looks like the Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan, Perak is in danger again. The Court of Appeal’s recent decision means the likely forced eviction of the occupants of the monastery. The Court has made a unanimous decision in favour of Associated Pan Malayan Cement (APMC), a subsidiary of YTL, in a land dispute case under Order 89, against the Malaysia Dhamma Sakyamuni Monastery. APMC won its appeal after the company sought a High Court order in Ipoh in January 2022.
Once again there could be imminent destruction of the century-old monastery and also the Gunung Kanthan unique distinctive karst landscape, as well as the endemic flora and fauna.
On 13 Sept 2023, Badan Warisan issued a media statement about their concern on the Court of Appeal’s decision involving the forced eviction of the occupants of Dhamma Sakyamuni Monastery at Gunung Kanthan, north of Ipoh in Perak. See the statement.
There is also a petition "Save Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, Save Gunung Kanthan ", which needs as many signatures as possible.
**
Media reports :
FMT 8 Sept Cement company wins appeal to evict century-old Perak monastery
NST 9 Sept 100-year-old Buddhist monastery in Perak faces eviction after losing court battle
NST 12 Sept Preserved by a century old monastery, five-million-year-old limestone hill may now make way for cement factory
NST 12 Sept Abbot of century-old Buddhist monastery expresses disappointment over court eviction
NST 15 Sept Abbot of century-old Perak Buddhist monastery not moving out, will continue fight
NST 16 Sept SAM disappointed over court decision to evict Buddhist monastery in Gunung Kanthan
FMT 17 Sept Perak govt sets up panel to study eviction of century-old monastery
NST 17 Sept Special committee to study Gunung Kanthan monastery issue
Star 17 Sept Committee formed to look into Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, says Perak MB
Astro Awani video on youtube 18 Sept Consider This: Gunung Kanthan — Perak’s Quarrying Dilemma
Star 18 Sept Kanthan land dispute case to be mediated by state govt
FMT 26 Sept We’re not budging from cave monastery, says abbot
SUN 1 Nov Research work on tropical limestone karst landscapes to protect Malaysia’s unique heritage
Star 1 Nov Research on tropical limestone karst aims to protect Malaysia's unique heritage
