Ipoh High Court rejects cement company’s bid to evict Kanthan cave monastery occupants

IPOH: The High Court here has dismissed the application by a cement company that tried to evict the occupants of the Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan in Chemor near here.

Judicial commissioner Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet made the decision after reviewing the submissions by both parties in the courtroom here on Tuesday (Oct 4).

“Based on the submissions by the plaintiff and defendant, the court has rejected the plaintiff's application,” he said.

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When met outside the courtroom, Leong Cheok Keng, who represented the monastery, said they were happy with the outcome.

“The monastery has been there for years and there are special flora and fauna that can only be found at Gunung Kanthan.

“A lot of work has been done for the case so we are happy with the result.

“The plaintiff can still make an appeal or make a civil case but we hope that they will leave the monastery alone,” he added.

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Monastery abbot Chiong Sai Tin, who was present together with 20 other monks and devotees, said they were relieved that they can stay at the monastery peacefully.

“We felt truly blessed. We have devotees locally and overseas who come to support us today.

“We will hold a special prayer to commemorate this day and we hope that the company will not come for us again,” he said.

The cement company had filed an Order 89 application to evict the monks by claiming that they are unlawful and unknown squatters.

The company was represented by lawyers Nimisha Jaya Gobi and Vong Sze Xin.