State government officials have denied knowledge of any demolition of ancient temples going on at the 8th century heritage site in Bujang Valley, Kedah.
Kedah Arts, Culture and Heritage committee chairperson Aminuddin Omar said yesterday that he could not comment as he has not received news of any such happenings.
"I have not received the latest and first-hand information about such a matter. I can only comment when I do," said the Jitra assemblyperson when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Aminuddin, who is also a Kedah state executive committee (exco) member, was asked to comment on a report by FreeMalaysiaToday on Friday alleging that a housing developer had destroyed a famous 8th century temple ruins, known as Candi Sungai Batu.
The report quoted a NGO known as Bujang Valley Study Circle calling on the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to intervene and prevent further destruction of the historical sites.
The NGOs chairperson V Nadarajan said the temple, also known as Bujang Valley site 11, is a very famous tourist attraction in the region.
“The temple in Sungai Batu estate is the most famous tourism spot in Bujang Valley, but now it is gone,” he was reported saying.
In 2011, the government pledged to buy land around the Bujang Valley in order to avoid the development of housing in the area. (Link: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/136570
Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Minister Maglin Dennis D'Cruz had then also made a similar assurance to the Dewan Negara.
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