Kedahans slam culprits for destroying heritage

Locals and tourists have been flocking to Bujang Valley the past week, thinking that the entire historical site of a former Sri Vijaya Kingdom, which spans 4,844sq-ft and goes back to some 2,000 years ago, has disappeared overnight.

Several people met at the Lembah Bujang Archeological Museum in Bukit Batu Pahat yesterday, expressed relief that they could still see some structures and artefacts that have been carefully preserved by the museum management.

However, a local teacher, Abdul Rahman Noordin expressed disappointment with the way the country's historical sites have been managed by other relevant authorities.

"They do not promote our history well enough. Lembah Bujang is not even specifically mentioned in our school history books. More should be done to promote and preserve places such as this one" Rahman, 49, told Malaysiakini.

"I heard about the demolition of Candi 11. It should not have happened. As a local, I feel hurt because this is part of our state and national treasure," said the father of three.

The demolition of Candi 11, an 8th century temple with Hindu Buddhist elements in Sungai Batu, sparked public outrage, with some blaming the federal government for "cultural barbarism", while others accuse Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir's administration of encouraging "Talibanism".

People came from as far as Johor after hearing about the demolition in the media. Mukhriz on Monday issued the developer astop workorder.

Other than Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy and Makkal Sakthi members, former PKR Batu Uban assemblyperson S Raveentharan dropped in at the museum with his aunt yesterday.

"The MB's stop work order is tantamount to closing the stable doors upon the horses bolting out. BN will lose the support of all Indians and also all the other international historical groups and bodies," Raveentharan said.

‘The PM cannot bury the truth'

"Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his executives cannot bury the truth in a pre-dominantly Islamic state. Islam came to Malaysia through Gujerat in India, so please do not, in the name of Ketuanan Melayu, erase history and create one that does not exist," he said.

Also at the museum was former journalist Ng Boon Hooi, who said that the culprits who destroyed the country's heritage site must be punished harshly and Malaysia should do more to protect its heritage.

"They (the developers) have taken away our shared memory and history. Our heritage plays an important role for our progress as a nation," said Ng, a mother of two young children who lives in Malacca.

"But more than mere punishment, the younger generation must be made aware of how important our shared heritage is so that incidents like this are not repeated in future."

Engineer R Indran, 48, a local living near Sungai Petani, who rushed to the museum after reading the reports about the Candi 11 demolition, could not fathom why such a historical site could be destroyed with impunity.

Indran is also baffled that the spokesperson for developer Bandar Saujana Sdn Bhd, Saw Guan Keat, said the company was not aware of the historical value of the Candi.

"It is common sense that such a site should be preserved. The developer could just build a fence around the temple ruins. It would enhance the value of the housing project. Now it is all gone. Very sad," said the father of three.

Malaysiakini learnt that the Kedah office of the Department of National Heritage has been was aware of the demolition since it started in September.

While the department did inform the museum of this, it did not stop the clearing of the site.

It is learnt that the museum was unable to prevent the demolition as the site has no longer been under its jurisdiction since 2006.

No move for world heritage site recognition

It is also learnt that the developer, Bandar Saujana, obtained the right to develop the land in 1993, under BN's rule. The area was not gazetted as a heritage site, like the entire Lembah Bujang, which is yet to apply to Unesco to be recognised as a world heritage site.

"It is impossible for the developer not to be aware of the historical significance of the temple. Every developer knows what it is getting into when land is purchased, for we have laws," said a museum officer who did not wished to be named.

The staff member also questioned why the Indian community living within the range of the site did not kick up a fuss earlier, while NGOs highlighted the matter only after the land had been flattened.

Malaysiakini visited the site yesterday and despite the heavy rain, local boy Dinesh Kumar (right, in red T-shirt) was eager to take visitors to the spot where the candi once stood.

Against the backdrop of Gunung Jerai, well known for its mystic and secrets, the former candi, flattened by gigantic bulldozers and covered with red earth, has now been cordoned off with yellow strips, courtesy of the police, and development works have come to a standstill.

Dinesh said the local folk were not aware of the demolition exercise as the area had earlier been surrounded with an oil palm estate.

"Only when the estate was cleared and "big people" (authorities) started visiting that we realised the candi had been torn to bits," said Dinesh, 16, who is extremely concerned about the matter.

The incident has put a dent into the hearts of the local community living in low-cost houses built close to a tiny, run-down chapel, the Immaculate Conception.

"Of course we are also very angry as the temple has been a memorable sight in our area since ancient times. How are we supposed to rebuild it again? It will never be the same" said the teenager who lives in the vicinity with his grandmother.

Reconstructed from an original site in 1974, Mukhriz said the destroyed Candi 11 in Sungai Batu could be rebuilt at the original plot if the company agreed, or it may be erected near the Universiti Sains Malaysia excavation site within the area.

However, after the harrowing experience of losing such a memorable landmark, the local people, like Dinesh, are doubtful that Candi 11 can ever be replaced.