Gua Lepak food court seeks licence


Gua Lepak continues to draw diners despite not being allowed to operate inside the cave. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

THE food court operator who defied orders to cease running a business inside the 400-million-year-old Swamp Cave in Gombak, Selangor, is now trying to legitimise its operations.

The Gua Lepak operator is intending to get a temporary occupation licence (TOL) after a warning notice was issued by the Gombak District and Land Office (PDTG).

PDTG director Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz told StarMetro it had been approached by the operator about getting a TOL.

“They are currently preparing a preliminary survey plan for submission to PDTG,” she said.

However, she added that TOL approval would depend on Selangor Land and Mines Office.

The warning notice was issued under Section 425 of the National Land Code 1965, which penalises unauthorised occupation or development on government, reserved or mining land.

Tanot says getting Unesco Global Geoparks (UGGp) recognition was no easy feat.Tanot says getting Unesco Global Geoparks (UGGp) recognition was no easy feat.

Violators face fines of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to five years.

StarMetro reported on Tuesday that the operator had been back in business since early October last year.

This is despite an eviction notice issued by PDTG earlier in March for running a business inside a cave that is part of the Gombak-Hulu Langat (GHL) Geopark.

While the operator is licensed by Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) to conduct business outside, they are not permitted to set up tables and chairs inside Swamp Cave.

The GHL Geopark features 31 geosites, 20 of which are recognised as eco- and geo-tourism areas with natural and geological landscapes.

The Batu Caves limestone hills, where Swamp Cave is located, is one of the 20 geosites.

According to an expert, Selangor’s efforts to get Unesco Global Geoparks (UGGp) recognition for GHL Geopark by 2028 could face challenges if public safety inside the cave eatery becomes a concern.

StarMetro report on Jan 21.StarMetro report on Jan 21.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Tanot Unjah, who serves on the committee evaluating geosites, said achieving UGGp status would not be an easy feat as it involved many intricate considerations.

“Safety must be the priority, as any incident could jeopardise the state’s bid for Unesco recognition,” said Tanot, who heads the Heritage Geology and Landscape programme at the university.

In the case of Gua Lepak, she said the Minerals and Geosciences Department (JMG) must confirm the safety of the area, ensuring all technical requirements are fulfilled.

“For instance, if an earthquake were to occur, is there a risk of collapse?

“The department must produce a comprehensive report, confirming whether the area is safe.

“If it is not, they must clearly state so and if it is, necessary precautions should still be taken,” she said.

Tanot said even Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) must address concerns, such as buildings being constructed too close to the cave.

“Someone must be held accountable if anything were to happen.

“If lives are lost, any bid for Unesco recognition will undoubtedly be jeopardised.”

The importance of safety at geosites was brought into sharp focus following an incident in April last year at the Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village in Ipoh, Perak, where a 44-year-old man died after being struck by a falling rock at the foothills of Gunung Rapat.

The tourist area was subsequently closed.

At the time, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad announced that a special foothill development committee, formed in 2022 and chaired by the Perak Land and Mines Office director, would reissue a circular urging all local councils, tourism operators and related agencies to exercise greater caution in such areas.

Last year, JMG revealed that neither the operator nor local council had applied for or consulted on any activities at Swamp Cave.

JMG director-general Datuk Zamri Ramli confirmed that the department was not involved in reviewing the technical aspects of the food court’s operations, as required under established procedures.

Zamri also noted that any proposals must go through the local authority, which must request a technical review from JMG based on its “Guideline for Determination of Hazard Zone at Limestone Area” to ensure safety.

He noted that the media had raised concerns about the Gua Lepak food court, including visitor safety, risks of geological disasters, fossil conservation, operational legitimacy, vandalism, biodiversity disruption and the sustainability of the geosite within the GHL Geopark.

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