Renewed activity to save Gunung Kanthan

I haven't seen any media reports on trying to save Gunung Kanthan since 2024. Then in August 2026 campaigners had a few articles published.

Malaysiakini 11 Aug 2026 "Century-old monastery in PM's backyard faces demolition, monks appeal to Anwar".

Says.com 12 Aug "Monks Appeal To PM Anwar To Save Century-Old Monastery In Perak Cave From Demolition

FMT 14 Aug "Groups renew call to save Gunung Kanthan from quarrying". The photo in the article shows the shocking destruction of the hill, And the quarrying seems to be so close to the Sakyamuni monastery.

Ipoh Echo 14 Aug "NGOs urge state authorities to preserve Gunung Kanthan". 

Malaysiakini 14 Aug "Protect Gunung Kanthan's unique biodiversity, NGOs urge Perak govt". 

Malaysiakini 18 Aug "'Not just a monastery', says head monk of Tambun spiritual site facing demolition".

Malaysiakini 18 Aug " ‘Ini Tuhan kasi’ - kenapa sukar buat sami pindah dari Gunung Kanthan / 'This is God's gift' - why it's difficult for monks to move from Mount Kanthan".

Malaysiakini 20 Aug "Comment | Gunung Kanthan: Facts behind the recent news".

The Malay Mail 18 August  "How much of Malaysia must we destroy before we call it heritage? — Khoo Ying Hooi". The articles talks about general heritage but specifically mentions the Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan. It says : "The controversy surrounding the century-old Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan in Perak is not simply about one religious site. Rather, it is about the way we repeatedly reduce heritage to a dispute over land ownership, quarrying rights, development plans and economic value, as though history itself is somehow less significant because it cannot be calculated in ringgit per square foot.

The monastery has existed there for generations, while the limestone hill itself carries geological and ecological significance that predates the Malaysian state by an unimaginable span of time. It is a place where religious practice, community memory, biodiversity and local history meet. Yet here we are again, debating how much of it can be sacrificed in the name of development."

It goes on to talk about other sites that are being lost. It goes on to say :

"Gunung Kanthan makes the issue even more serious because some destruction cannot be disguised as redevelopment and later repaired. Limestone formations created over millions of years do not grow back. Rare ecosystems do not reappear because we suddenly discover their value after quarrying is completed. A century of spiritual life connected to a particular cave cannot simply be moved somewhere else. Places accumulate memory through time. Their meaning comes partly from being where they are."