Candi part of Malay heritage

Historians also rebuked a Kedah exco for saying it was not necessary to gazette the candis, saying it is about preserving national heritage.

PETALING JAYA: The candi in Bujang Valley, Kedah should be preserved because it is part of Malay heritage.

History Association of Malaysia (Kedah branch) chairman, Wan Shamsudin Mohd Yusof said since the candi were built by the Malays, the government must do its part to preserve it.

He cited research done by Archaeology and Pre-Islamic Malay Culture and Civilizations expert Nik Hassan Suhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman whose findings revealed that the candi were built in the first century.

“The candi were the result of the Malays’ workmanship. The carvings are different from candi (found) in India,” he said.

Recently, developers demolished the most famous 8th century temple remnants known as Candi Sungai Batu estate or Bujang Valley site 11.

As a result, Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir said the Tourism and Culture ministry has agreed to gazette certain sites in Bujang Valley.

The ancient temple area in Bujang Valley has also been submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to be certified as a World Heritage site.

Yesterday Kedah state exco member and Tanjung Dawai state assemblyman Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the government’s move to gazette the land will only result in it (the government) losing Malay votes at the next general election, and that almost every house might have a candi underneath.

Mukhriz disclosed that there are numerous buildings that have already been built on top of candi land.

“As you know, even the city of Rome was built on ruins, so we’re talking about ruins here and it’s inevitable that sometimes that happens,” he lamented.

The Umno leader then said it was important to identify which candi’s were of historical significance to be gazetted or otherwise.

“That’s why I insist on identifying which ones are of historical significance,” he said.

What about ancient temples?

Touching on the subject of ancient temples, he explained that it is impossible to gazette all the ancient temples located in Kedah as it would cost the state government millions of ringgit that the state does not have.

“There may be thousands (of ancient temples) there if you want to gazette all of them,” the Kedah Menteri Besar told reporters at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) at the sidelines of Umno general assembly here.

He explained that the act of gazetting meant the state government would have to pay property owners for the use of their land.

“So it is going to come down to tens of millions of ringgit, which we really don’t have,” he said.

Meanwhile, MIC central working committee member S Murugesan disagreed with Kedah state exco member Tajul’s comments.

“I disagree with his views. The government must take action based on what is right and proper,” he said.

Murugesan urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Mukhriz to stay on course and do what is right for the country.

“Elections are over. We should do the right thing by gazetting the area as a heritage site.

“This issue concerns our future. It is not just for us, but for our future generation,” he said.

Not a racial issue but of shared heritage

On Tajul who said the government should just concentrate on the majority instead of giving priority to the minorities, Murugesan said the former’s statement “does not make sense”.

“This is not about the majority or minority, it is about doing what is right. Do not turn this into a racial issue,” he said.

Murugesan added that the candi are a shared heritage and belongs to all Malaysians.

“And for all we know, it was his ancestors who built the candi,” he said.

Penang Heritage Trust honorary secretary Clement Liang slammed Tajul, saying the latter’s statement was ridiculous.

“What does this issue have to do with politics. It is a heritage issue, it is about preserving our common human heritage,” he said.

Liang added that what was important is the next step needed to be taken to salvage the candi.

“I think it is time to sit down and review what we have done so far. By preserving our heritage, we will be proud of it someday,” he said.

Liang also expressed hope for everyone to come together instead of politicising the issue.

Bujang Valley is one of the earliest entry points to the Malay peninsula which even pre-dates the Malacca empire. Sailors from India had used Mount Jerai as a reference point to the ancient maritime city.

Excavations at the archaeological site had revealed remains of a jetty, iron-smelting areas and a clay-brick monument dating back to 110AD, which makes it the oldest man-made structure known in Southeast Asia.