THOUGH century-old Buddhist and Taoist cave temples are facing an eviction crisis in Perak, they can use this opportunity to get formal recognition from the state government, said a temple manager.

Chan Kwai Hoong said this depends on discussions of the special committee, which was set up to deal with the crisis following the outcry after the eviction announcement was made earlier this month.

The Nam Thean Tong Temple custodial committee chairman said: “It can be a blessing in disguise as our temple has not been able to obtain any land deed and legal use rights for more than 100 years.”

“When the news (on the eviction order) was first announced, we were shocked. But after deep thinking, we see it as a chance to finally get some recognition.”

The 155-year-old Nam Thean Tong Temple, which was established in 1867, has applied for a title deed three times to relevant authorities throughout the years, but to no avail.

This deprives it of government grants or funds afforded to other houses of worship with proper documentation.

The temple has survived so far on donations – of which some were used to transform its original wooden exterior into a grand, steel-reinforced concrete facade.

The interior cave has also seen structural reinforcements, and undergoes stringent maintenance to ensure safety.

Nineteen cave temples received 30-day eviction notices from the Perak Lands and Mines Department in the first week of this month.

Nam Thean Tong Temple received its notice on January 7.

Chinese-based party MCA intervened, following a public outcry, but caused confusion when it said the notices have been retracted – a statement denied by the Lands and Mines Department.

Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad – who previously said the notices were issued due to safety concerns – recognised the sensitivity of the issue and set up a special committee comprising government and opposition political parties.

Chan said he hopes the committee can meet after the Chinese New Year.

“We hope to get Nam Thean Tong Temple listed as a religious heritage as it is one of the oldest temples, a tourist attraction and contains many antiques and cultural relics.

“If it cannot be listed, we hope to get the temple at least a 60-year temporary title deed,” he added, describing it as “a win-win solution”.

Chan said he understands concerns about cave temples’ safety, citing an incident at the Sam Poh Tong Temple on January 11, 2009, when a landslide killed one person and trapped several tourists for hours.

The famous Buddhist temple, founded in 1890, reopened a year later following restoration works that cost RM200,000.

Meanwhile, the Nam Thean Tong Temple has not had a single incident in 155 years thanks to safety measures.

Chan said the temple management committee ensures internal structures face minimal alterations.

“We do inspections and take precautionary measures each time it rains, instead of doing maintenance only once a year,” he said, adding that the annual maintenance cost is at least RM10,000.

Chan said the state can even send experts and geologists on a structural integrity survey.

However, some fine the excuse for the evictions hard to accept.

Kong Mun Hon said Perak should not think that temple operators do not care about safety.

“We are always concerned about safety, otherwise, how can we be going in and out of the temples? Whenever there are strong rain or wind, we pay extra attention.”

Kong manages a Thai Buddhist temple established in Simpang Pulai just over three years ago. It, too, is near a cave.

But the temple still received an eviction notice, despite its structure not extending into the cave.

Kong said the notice should not be “simply issued” without first analysing each venue.

It should be issued only after safety issues are found following structural inspections, he added, and even then, the temple management must first be notified.

Ipoh resident Calvin Liew, 42, said he cannot help but wonder whether there is another agenda.

He urged the state government to give official recognition to cave temples as they are unique.

“When it comes to safety, there is no place in the world that is 100% safe.

“Why must murals and white coffee be the only symbols of Ipoh? Why can’t cave temples also be symbols? Yet, they are now facing the threat of eviction.”

Perak Lands and Mines Department said there are 41 cave temples in the state. Of the total, 14 are built on government land, 24 on reserved land and three on private land. – January 26, 2022.