Kedahans slam culprits for destroying heritage

Locals and tourists have been flocking to the Bujang Valley this past week, thinking that the entire site of a former Sri Vijaya Kingdom, which spans 4,844 sq ft and goes back some 2,000 years, 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 (left) 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, has sparked public outrage.
Some have blamed the federal government for "cultural barbarism", while others have accused Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir's administration of encouraging "Talibanism".

People have come to the site in Sungai Batu from as far as Johor, after reading about the demolition in media reports.
On Monday, Mukhriz had issued a stop work order to the developer.

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 after the horses have bolted. BN will lose the support of all Indians and also all the other international historical groups and bodies," Raveentharan said.

"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."

Also at the museum was former journalist Ng Boon Hooi, who said that the culprits who destroyed the candi 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."

Engineer R Indran, 48, who lives near Sungai Petani, rushed to the museum after reading news reports. He said he could not understand how such a historical site was destroyed with impunity.

Indran is also baffled that Saw Guan Keat, the spokesperson for developer Bandar Saujana Sdn Bhd, had claimed 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.
Department failed to act

Malaysiakini has learnt that the Kedah office of the Department of National Heritage had been aware of the demolition when the work began 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 not been under its jurisdiction since 2006.

It is also learnt that Bandar Saujana had obtained the right to develop the land in 1993, while the state was under BN 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 Malaysian community living within the range of the site did not alert the authorities earlier, while NGOs highlighted the matter only after the site had been flattened.

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

Against the backdrop of the mystic Gunung Jerai, the site - now just raw earth - has been cordoned off by the police. Development work has come to a standstill.

Dinesh said the local residents were not aware of the demolition exercise as the site had been surrounded by an oil palm estate.

"Only when the estate was cleared and "big people" (authorities) started visiting, did we realise that the candi had been torn down," said Dinesh, 16.
The incident has disheartened local residents. They live in low-cost houses built close to the tiny, run-down Immaculate Conception chapel.
"Of course we are very angry, as the temple has been (part of our) area ... How are we supposed to rebuild it? It will never be the same," said Dinesh who lives with his grandmother.

Reconstructed from an original site in 1974, Mukhriz said the destroyed Candi 11 can be rebuilt at the original plot if the company agrees, or it may be placed near the Universiti Sains Malaysia excavation site within the area.

However, after the harrowing experience of losing such a landmark, the locals are doubtful that Candi 11 can ever be replaced.