BY: SRIDEVI SURYA

In recent weeks, it was disheartening to hear of the state government of Perak issuing an eviction order on a beautiful decades-old cave temple situated in the limestone hills upon entry of Ipoh City which many people have deemed as an inconsiderate decision.

Protests and petitions are on-going and many Malaysians wonder why these cave temples are now the subject of eviction as word has it that all cave temples are set for eviction without any logical or clear reasons given.

Taoist and Hindu cave temples rank among them and are scattered all over the country including tribal temples in east Malaysia and there must now be a concerted move by right thinking Malaysians to preserve the heritage status of these cave temples.

These cave temples have even been in existence long before Merdeka or Independence from the British in 1957 and are considered as places of pilgrimage where devotees go seeking for blessing, give alms and to say prayers of thanksgiving.

For many other Malaysians, who may not be devotees, these cave temples are a natural attraction and a place of interest to visit for comfort and solace or just to soothe nerves as they are set in tranquil surroundings.

This is why the government of the day must pay heed to the concerns of Malaysians and not evict these cave temples but gazette them and give them heritage status and preserve their unique culture and identity.

THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher