Some items from the 2024 press relating to caves
Contents :
Unsafe limestone hills like ‘time bombs’
ISCA conference Mulu 2024
David William Gill – RIP
Guano collection
Dangers of building close to hills
Lipis Geopark
Escalator proposed for Batu Caves
Protection for Kanthan Sakyamuni Caves Monastery & other cave temples
Niah World Heritage application
RIP Nik Hassan Shuhaimi
Perlis geopark assessment project
Lenggong declared a Geopark
Gua Lepak food court
Rock fall at Qing Xin Ling kills guide
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Unsafe limestone hills like ‘time bombs’
Berita Harian 2 Jan “Zon batu kapur bagaikan ‘bom jangka’ (Limestone zone is like a ‘time bomb’) is a long article saying many limestone zones around the country are unstable but have been indiscriminately encroached upon by the public. There should be a safe distance of at least 200 m. From Google translate “There were about 18 reports of rockfalls in the limestone landscape between 1919 and 2022 in the Kinta Valley, which caused 59 casualties in addition to damage to public property. In addition, a rockfall incident at the hot spring resort range in Tambun caused two deaths on 10 November 2020, as well as at Park Cave Temple on 12 January 2009, killing one victim and two injured. A rock fall involving a large rock block weighing 23,000 tons occurred at Gunung Cheroh, causing 12 deaths and damage to nearby residences and shops on 18 October 1973.”
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ISCA conference Mulu 2024
The International Show Caves Association conference for 2024 will be held in Mulu National Park from 28 Sept – 06. Oct. See ISCA page.
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David William Gill – RIP
Very sad news for the caving community, both in the UK and in and around Mulu National Park in Sarawak. Dave died in hospital in Miri on 9 Jan after a short illness. His decades long commitment to Mulu, to its caves, forests and people was incredible. From the early 1990s he was a full time speleologist and development officer for the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak where he worked for a period of 10 years. His major achievements included the establishment of a new protected area, the Gunung Buda National Park that contained 92 km of caves mapped and explored and all the documentation for Gunung Mulu to be nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Area. After a time back in UK, he returned to Sarawak and was involved in conservation, world heritage and helping local communities. He was a prolific writer of articles and in the last couple of years wrote a series of five on Mulu and Buda, published in Cave & Karst Science.
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Guano collection
NST 11 Jan showed a picture of cave guano collection, saying “ALOR SETAR, January 11 — The high demand for bat manure has been a welcome source of income for cave guide Asri Shuaib, 55, who shared that a 10 to 16 kilogramme (kg) sack of bat manure is sold for between RM35 to RM45 direct to customers. According to Asri on the market it retails for RM7 per kilogramme.”. I hope this doesn’t lead to the indiscriminate and unsustainable collection of guano. See more on Threats to caves.
The same week, WION 14 Jan had an article “”Thailand: Traces of new deadly bat virus which can infect humans found inside cave, says report”. The virus is in the guano and this guano is collected by local farmers.
See more my pages on Diseases and Bats.
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Dangers of building close to hills
Berita Harian 15 Jan detailed article on the dangers of construction close to limestone hills, “Penduduk di zon batu kapur perlu patuhi arahan”.
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Lipis Geopark
Lipis was certified as National Geopark in Nov 2023. NST 18 Jan “Following national recognition, Lipis eyes Unesco global geopark status by 2026″. The article also says ” The Lipis district was certified as the country’s current largest National Geopark on Nov 9 last year”. Malay Mail 18 Jan “Lipis Geopark eyes Unesco recognition: Pahang MB announces target for 2026”. Another piece of geological history is found in several limestone hills, such as Gua Bama and Gua Panjang, where there is a border of rocks that is 250 million years old.
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Escalator proposed for Batu Caves
There are proposals to build an escalator at Batu Caves by the end of the year. Bernama 19 Jan “Batu Caves temple to get escalator this year”; FMT 19 Jan “Escalator to Batu Caves temple to be built this year”; MM 19 Jan “Batu Caves temple to get escalator this year, says committee chairman”; NST 19 Jan “Batu Caves Temple to get escalator this year”; The Star 19 Jan “Batu Caves temple to get escalator this year”. The reports don’t give any more details. It also made the international press such as CNN 20 Jan “This 400 million-year-old cave site and temple in Malaysia is planning an escalator upgrade”. The Sun 19 Jan “Batu Caves Temple to get escalator this year “; 20 Jan “Proposed Batu Caves temple escalator will be the longest in Southeast Asia”; 25 Jan “Construction of Batu Caves escalator will not mar concrete steps – Temple Chairman”.
Thaipusam falls on 25 Jan.
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Protection for Kanthan Sakyamuni Caves Monastery & other cave temples
After years of trying to get protection for cave temples in Perak, and in particular the Kanthan Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, it looks like there could be some good news. Last year there was a petition to save the monastery. On 27 Jan change.org issued an update “A Commitment to Protecting Sacred Sites: Prime Minister’s Pledge to Safeguard Religious Monasteries”. The PM met with some of the forest monks and recognises the need to preserve religious places.
A further update on change.org 22 Feb ” LATEST FMT NEWS : Century-old monastery seeks to nullify company’s land lease extension”. This is taken from FMT 21 Feb “Century-old monastery seeks to nullify company’s land lease extension”. Then The Edge 28 Feb “Old Perak monastery fails to set aside APMC’s eviction notice”.
The Star 28 Feb “Limestone cave temples to stay, says Perak exco”. The state government will not close the existing limestone cave temples, the government plans to maintain them. We will allow these cave temples to operate provided all safety features are adhered to. New guidelines will be set up.
See more on my blog.
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Niah World Heritage application
The application for Niah National Park to become a UNESCO World Heritage site was submitted in 2019. See also Archives 2023. Now in 2024, NST 5 Feb “Niah National Park set to join Unesco World Heritage List by end of 2024”. NST 9 Mar “Nasi Lemak among three Malaysian heritage nominees for UNESCO World Heritage status” – this article says three Malaysian ‘symbols’ have been listed as candidates for the Unesco World Heritage List. They are Kompleks Gua Taman Negara Niah in Sarawak, Kebaya Malaysia, and Nasi Lemak. NST 15 Apr “Niah National Park nears Unesco World Heritage status” also on 15th ” Economic boost for Sarawak if Unesco recognises Niah National Park – Deputy Minister”. The Borneo Post 13 Apr “Niah National Park qualifies for semi-finals of Unesco World Heritage List”.
It seems the application is in the final selection phase and the nomination will be finalised in July.
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RIP Nik Hassan Shuhaimi
One of Malaysia’s great archaeologists, Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Nik Hassan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman passed away 2 March 2024. He worked extensively on Malaysian archaeology, notably at the Bujang Valley, and has written many papers relating to cave archaeology.
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Perlis geopark assessment project
Bernama 7 Mar “Federal govt allocates RM1.16 mln for Perlis geopark assessment project”. Perlis has been acknowledged as the 10th National Geopark. The recognition was granted on 9 Nov 2023.
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Lenggong declared a Geopark
In Dec 2021 Lenggong was declared as a Geopark. Then 9 Mar 2024 Bernama the Perak Sultan “today proclaimed Lenggong as a Geopark and opened the Lenggong Geopark Gallery”. Further on the article says the Geopark was recognised in 2021. The Lenggong Geopark Gallery was opened 16 Dec 2023. The Star 9 Mar “Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin proclaims Lenggong a geopark” and 10 Mar “Sultan Nazrin proclaims Lenggong as geopark”.
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Gua Lepak food court
In 2023 there was a lot of posts on the internet about the new food court at Gua Lepak, Batu Caves, showing the garish coloured lights inside the cave. Now The Star 11 Mar “Rock formations in cave not damaged, says eatery operator”. Various structures have been built inside the cave which is under Gombak Land Office’s administration. The floors have been cemented and rocks and sand removed. They did not destroy the rock formations, but merely painted them over. Some cave formations have been partially painted or bricked around. Three water pumps were installed to prevent flooding at the cave. “We did not disturb the natural structures or smoothen the sides or roof of the cave. We only painted some portions of the cave walls to make the place look nice”. Gua Lepak is situated in the Batu Caves area which is one of the geosites within Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark (GHL Geopark). A second article on 11 Mar “Food court in Gombak cave stirs up concerns (Poll Inside)”. This article shows some of the bright neon lights in the cave. There is no mention of what has happened to the cave bats.
The Star 12 Mar “Encroachment damaging fossils, rare species in Batu Caves, researchers warn”. The article talks about how valuable fossils can be lost by development inside caves. The Star 14 Mar “Food court in Gombak cave: Geosciences Dept not consulted, says DG”. FMT 14 Mar “Geoscience dept says not consulted on eatery in limestone cave” also 14 Mar “Tiada permohonan ulasan teknikal Restoran Gua Lepak, kata JMG”. The Malaysian Reserve 14 Mar “Gua Lepak: An underground cave hangout spot”. After a lot of noise in the media all week, The Star 15 Mar “Land office to shut down cave eatery”, a long article about how the food court doesn’t have approval or permission and is on state land, so an eviction notice is to be issued. And 15 Mar “Gua Lepak food court stops operations inside cave”. Also on 15 Mar “‘Limestone foothills development must follow set guidelines’”; 18 Mar “Poll reveals majority against cave dining” and 18 Mar “Push to manage Batu Caves sustainably”..
The food court is called Gua Lepak, but the cave was first named as Gua Tasek or Swamp Cave in my register (Sgr 01/28).
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Rock fall at Qing Xin Ling kills guide
A tour guide was killed after a rock fell on his head at the Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village in Ipoh. The Star 9 Apr “Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village temporarily closed following death of tour guide” and “Rockfall kills tour guide at popular tourist attraction in Ipoh” and “Experts to check Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village site after fatal rock fall”. Bernama 9 Apr “Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village temporarily closed after fatal incident”; The Sun 9 Apr “Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village temporarily closed after fatal incident”.
I visited in 2015.
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CAVES OF MALAYSIA 