Gerakan demolishes Umno exco man over candi remarks

An Umno executive councillor has come under fire from Penang Gerakan for stating that Umno will lose votes if places like Bujang Valley are gazetted.

Taking Tajul Urus Mat Zain to task, Tanjong Gerakan vice-chairperson H'ng Khoon Leng said it is wrong for the Kedah exco member to view the destruction of a historical site in a negative light. 

"Does this mean votes are more important than our historical sites?" H'ng asked at a press conference today.

He was responding to Tajul Urus (left), who told the Umno general assembly yesterday that the party would lose a constituency in Kedah if all areas where a candi is found are gazetted.

H'ng expressed shock over what he described as the "blatant destruction" of Candi 11 in Sungai Batu by a private developer.

The Lembah Bujang historical site is the oldest known Southeast Asian kingdom.

"This unprecedented action of demolishing a 1,000 year-old national heritage is a sacrilege and should not be allowed to recur," said H'ng.

"The latest comments and promises by the Kedah government indicate a lack of substantial commitment to a firm course of action in promoting and preserving the nearly neglected Bujang Valley," he added.

H'ng urged the Kedah government to conduct a full inquiry into the "debacle" and to table a white paper on this to the state legislative assembly.

"No stone should be left unturned to clear up this mess.

"Those found abusing their powers or who are guilty of negligence should be meted the appropriate and deterrent punishment.

"Technical and operational weaknesses should be identified and addressed," he stressed.

H'ng said the new Kedah government should learn from the failure of the Penang administration in protecting its hills, such as the balding of Bukit Relau, "wanton" hill slope development and the "infamous" destruction of Kampung Buah Pala.

"Both the National Heritage Department and Kedah government failed in the past to gazette the historical and heritage of these structures and sites, and should now ensure that they are gazetted immediately, without furher delay.

"Kedahans do not seem to appreciate history and heritage. The Kedah government's response to Candi 11 is merely superficial," H'ng added.