Kanthan land dispute case to be mediated by state govt

IPOH: A special committee meeting will be held with the Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery and Associated Pan Malaysia Cement (APMC) over the Kanthan land dispute case, says Perak Mentri Besar.

Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state will try to handle the case according to the law.

“The special committee will be led by state national integration committee chairman A. Sivanesan.

“He will chair the meeting between representatives of both parties and will listen to both sides,” he told reporters after attending the Karnival Mesra Anak Muda (youth carnival) at Stadium Indera Mulia yesterday.

Saarani was asked to comment on the matter after the century-old Buddhist monastery lost an appeal against an eviction order at the appellate court earlier this month.

The Court of Appeal had on Sept 5 reversed the Ipoh High Court’s decision, allowing APMC, a cement manufacturing company, to evict the century-old Buddhist monastery in Kanthan, Chemor.

The appellate court had said that the monastery had failed to raise any triable issues to prevent the eviction order.

In October last year, the High Court here dismissed the application by the cement company that tried to evict the monastery.

Saarani said the state was unable to give its own comments as it would be subjudice.

“Since the decision was under the court’s jurisdiction, we cannot simply share any interpretations,” he said.

Separately, Saarani said the state has started discussions with airline companies to bring in more flights to the state from several Asian countries as it prepares for Visit Perak Year 2024.

“State tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman Loh Sze Yee and state public transport committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin are in discussion with the respective airline companies.

“The matter is also being discussed with the Transport Ministry, and we are waiting for clearance from the ministry before we can announce it,” he said, adding that the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here has daily flights to Singapore and Johor.

“We can’t reveal the destination yet, but what we can share is that it is within Asia,” he added.

Saarani also said that the state has allocated about RM7mil to upgrade and repair some of the tourist attractions in the state that are in less favourable condition.

“There are several attractions, like the Pasir Salak Historical Complex, that are in need of renovations and upgrades.

“We have approved the allocation, and hopefully it can be completed as soon as possible,” he said.