KUALA LUMPUR: Why was there an about turn on the eviction notice given to cave temples in Perak after DAP representatives met with Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, asks MCA.
Party spokesman Mike Chong Yew Chuan, at a press conference Friday (Jan 14) at Wisma MCA here, said that Perak MCA chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon had met with the Perak Land and Mines Department previously and the party was confident that a solution was about to be reached.
“After DAP representatives met with the Mentri Besar, he then announced on Jan 12 that the eviction notices were still valid but the government was in the process of engaging with the temple managements to discuss the safety aspect of the limestone caves.
“During the meeting between Dr Mah and the Perak Land and Mines Department director, the director gave a verbal agreement that the notices would be revoked.
"The DAP must explain, not to us but to the Chinese community, what exactly transpired in the meeting they had with the Mentri Besar,” he said.
Chong added that the issue was now above the Perak Land and Mines Department and that MCA was currently reaching out to the state government to find a solution to the issue.
“We want a permanent solution to the matter. We are willing to work with DAP to find a solution but don’t use the issue to seek political mileage,” he said.
On Monday (Jan 10), Dr Mah said a decision to revoke the eviction notices was made by the Perak Land and Mines Department after a meeting was held between him, the department, and representatives from the cave temples.
However, on Wednesday Jan 12), at a press conference, Saarani said otherwise.
He added that the eviction notices were issued after the Fire and Rescue Department determined that several structures in the caves were not in good shape.
“We didn’t revoke them but instead, we are discussing it with the temple managements.
“A thorough review by the Fire and Rescue Department together with the state Minerals and Geoscience Department will be conducted to assess the condition of the caves,” Saarani had said at the press conference.
