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Monks from the Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan in Kinta Valley, Perak, are appealing to the prime minister to help save their century-old sanctuary
According to Malaysiakini, the monks urged Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to declare the monastery and its surrounding hillside a national heritage site.
Heritage and conservation groups have long opposed cement manufacturer Associated Pan Malaysia Cement (APMC) Sdn Bhd's legal bid to evict the monastery, arguing that removing the 100-year-old establishment would destroy its cultural significance and threaten endangered plant species.
FMT reported that the hill is one of the last 12 remaining limestone hills in the Kinta Valley National Geopark. It is also home to endangered species, including bent-toed geckos, snow-white orchids, and tiny snails.
The eviction pressure began in 2023 after APMC won its appeal at the Court of Appeal to evict squatters from the land located at Lot No. 46497 in Hulu Kinta.
APMC said it had acquired a 146.4-hectare lease from the state for quarrying activities. By the time the appeal was concluded, about 80% of the hill had already been cleared for quarrying.
In their latest attempt to save the monastery, the monks, through their lawyer, urged Anwar to approve the monastery's heritage status after their previous applications yielded no results
"He (Anwar) can resolve this issue with the stroke of a pen because he is not only the Tambun MP, but also the prime minister.
"He has the power to declare that the monastery and this hillside area are a national heritage site," Malaysiakini quoted their lawyer N Surendran as saying yesterday, 11 August.
The monastery's history dates back more than a century to Great Master Lao Shi Fu, one of the Thudong (ascetic) monks from Thailand who explored the mountains and caves of northern Malaya for meditation retreats in the last century.
According to a 2023 report by Buddhist Channel, monastery abbot Dr Chiong Sai Tin said Great Master Lao envisioned the monastery during a deep meditation session and later established it as a place for rest and spiritual practice.
The monastery comprises two main shrine halls: the upper cave, which serves as living quarters and a meditation area for monks, and the lower cave, where devotees can pray and participate in chanting sessions.
After Great Master Lao established the monastery, it attracted monks from various countries who came to meditate. Their presence also introduced the local community to the monks and the spiritual benefits of meditation, with some devotees eventually choosing to become monks themselves.
