Gua Tambun closed indefinitely, major clean up on the way

KUALA LUMPUR (July 13): Ipoh’s Gua Tambun will be closed indefinitely as Ipoh City Council (MBI) goes about the task of cleaning up the historical site.

The Perak authorities must also determine the agency or body that should be responsible for the upkeep of the cave.  

State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Tan Kar Hing told The Malay Mail that MBI has been given seven days to clean up the area.

“I have also asked several departments and agencies to prepare reports on the cave’s future developments,” Tan said.

Those involved are the National Heritage Department, Tourism Perak, Perak State Parks Corporation, MBI and the Mineral and Geoscience Department.

Tan explained that “while the cave is located on a site under the Kinta Land Office’s jurisdiction, it does not have the expertise to maintain it,” but the paintings on the wall’s cave are looked after by the National Heritage Department.

“Hence, we need reports from the various departments and agencies to decide which agency should look after the cave,” The Malay Mail reported Tan saying.

He also said he will inspect the site again next week after the clean-up is done.

Gua Tambun is home to South-east Asia’s largest hematite Neolithic rock art. The cave paintings found there are reputed to be 12,000 years old.

They are thought to be the only such cave art in Malaysia.

It was reported earlier this week that the state temporarily closed off public access to Gua Tambun due to dangerous and poorly-maintained routes to the site.

The two paths to Gua Tambun are reported to be dirty, treacherous and overgrown.

Non-governmental organisations in Perak have also supported the state government’s plan to shut off public access to the cave.