Scrap Batu Caves condo now, Karpal tells S'gor gov't

 

Even as his colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat are embroiled in a blame game with the BN over the Batu Caves condominium project, DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh has called on the Selangor government to end the bickering quickly.

In a statement, he said this can happen if the state government scraps the proposed 29-storey condominium complex.

Karpal argued that this would "end the blame game" as to whether the BN or Pakatan is liable for the conundrum, and quell growing unrest among Hindus over the threat of damage to the world-renowned shrine to Lord Murugan which is located in the area.

Other than the religious sensitivities involved, he pointed to environmental and conservation concerns as the project may negatively impact the 400 million-year-old limestone caves, whose tourism potential makes it important not only to Hindus but all Malaysians.

"The state government cannot ignore the manifestation of protests against the project," he warned.

Reinforcing his argument, he said the project itself is not viable for more mundane reasons, quoting the disclosures by Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu who cited:

• Department of Environment letters to the Selayang Municipal Council stating the dangers of building high-risk projects in the area; and

• Minerals and Geoscience Department warnings to the council over the "unsafe"project is unsafe and the failure of developer Dolomite Industries Sdn Bhd to submit an environmental impact assessment report.

‘Relocate project’

Karpal said there are plenty of other more viable sites to which the project can be moved and appealed to the developer to act in good faith and re-site the condominium.

The veteran lawyer offered pro bono legal services to the Batu Caves temple committee, should his suggestion be ignored and the committee seek recourse in the court.

The committee has said it is prepared to take legal action if no permanent solution is found within one month.

Karpal also threatened to mobilise the DAP to mount an all-out campaign against the project if the state refuses to scrap the project.

This is reminiscent of what the party did to stop planned development that would have ruined the pristine environs of Bukit Cina, Malacca, in the early 1980s.