GEORGE TOWN, Dec 3 — Parties behind the destruction of a prehistoric temple ruin in Lembah Bujang, Kedah must be investigated to determine if they broke any laws, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today

Any wrongdoings that are uncovered must be pursued to safeguard the remaining relics and monuments at the historical site, the DAP secretary-general said in a statement today expressing outrage over news that candi number 11 in Lembah Bujang was demolished to make way for development

“Governments in power must have the political will to act and punish those who destroy the rich history of our country,” he said.

The Bagan MP also said merely issuing a stop-work order to the developer now is not enough.

“We expect the Kedah state government to take proactive policies to protect and enhance monuments and historical places bequeathed to us by earlier generations,” he said.

The Bagan MP also urged the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the National Heritage Department to take immediate steps to apply to Unesco to list Bujang Valley as a Unesco World Heritage site.

“Saving ancient temples and monuments in Bujang Valley and in other areas in Malaysia is the duty of all Malaysians,” he said.

He later pointed out that in Penang, where George Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site, the state administration has placed much importance to safeguard and advance the heritage zone.

Candi number 11, which was temple ruins that was reconstructed at its original site at Sungai Batu in 1974, dated back to between the 8^th and 11^th century.

It was destroyed sometime between August and September when the landowner, a developer, started clearing works to develop the land.

Lembah Bujang, within the Merbok district of Kedah, is the richest archaeological site in Malaysia with 90 candi (temple) scattered throughout the valley.

Excavations on the site have also uncovered jetty remains, iron smelting sites and relics with Hindu and Buddhist influences that point towards a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom there as early as 110 CE.