Malaysians online were incensed over reports that a 1,200-year-old temple ruin had been razed by a developer clearing land for a residential housing project.
The temple ruin, known locally as “candi”, is reportedly one of more than 90 in Malaysia’s Bujang Valley, or “Lembah Bujang”. The NGO Badan Warisan Malaysia is trying to get the valley recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tweet below claims to show the candi site after its destruction.
View image on Twitter
Many criticised the government of Kedah state for claiming that it could do little to protect the ruins. The government is now attempting to salvage remnants of the temple, and has reportedly asked the developer to stop work at the site.
P. Ramasamy, Deputy Chief Minister of Panang, has reportedly vowed to seek legal action against the developer and complicit authorities for their roles in the temple’s destruction.
Some wondered why the temple was not already designated as a protected historical site.