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KUALA LUMPUR – Perak DAP has to come clean on what transpired in the Tuesday meeting it had with Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad that led to reinstatement of eviction notices on cave temples in Ipoh.
MCA spokesman Mike Chong said the party was close to achieving an amicable solution having obtained Perak Land and Mines Department director Datuk Mohamad Fariz Mohamad Hanip’s verbal agreement to revoke the eviction notices a day before DAP’s meeting with Saarani.
“DAP leaders must take responsibility to explain to the public, and especially those from the Chinese community, on its supposed role that led to the reinstatement on Wednesday.”
Chong described Saarani’s decision to reinstate the eviction notices as “strange” seeing how MCA made headway into the issue having met the state authorities and temple committees.
“Why did Perak DAP insist on meeting the MB and complicate matters? After the members met Saarani, things changed drastically.
“Perak DAP must explain to the Chinese community and the affected temple bodies about its involvement.
“Evidently, the issue relapsed after the meeting with the MB. Hence why DAP is putting the blame on MCA,” he said during a press conference at Wisma MCA today.
He added that Perak DAP is more than welcome to resolve the temple eviction issue with MCA.
“We welcome you (Perak DAP) to come onboard and solve the problem together with us, but if you want to further complicate the issue in order to gain more political mileage or such, then please stop.”
However, when asked as to why there was no written agreement between the temple bodies and the Perak Land and Mines Department, Chong was not able to comment immediately.
“That I have to get back to you later, because I was not in the meeting, but I was told the main thing here is not only about revoking the eviction notice, but also to set up a special task force to look into this matter.
“We are looking for a solution to this problem, not just a temporary solution, but to solve it for good.”
This comes after Saarani on Wednesday cited security factors as the reason behind the eviction notices which were served on at least 14 cave temple bodies and operators earlier this month.
He had said the notices were served under Section 425 of the National Land Code 1965 to inform the operators that any occupation, settlement or activity carried out in the caves without permission was an offence under the law.
Additional reasons for the notices being issued, mentioned by Saarani, included illegal construction work rampant in the surrounding areas, creating safety hazards and damaging the nature of the caves as a natural area to be protected.
Reports earlier this week surfaced of these cave temples, some more than 100-year old, receiving eviction notices issued by the Kinta district land office, which gave the management of these temples 30 days from January 7 to vacate the premises.
Then on Monday, MCA Perak chief Datuk Mah Hang Soon was reported as saying that the Perak Land and Mines Department had agreed to revoke the notices to at least 19 cave temples.
Mah had said the decision was made following his meeting with the department and cave temple representatives earlier that day. – The Vibes, January 14, 2022
