Cave Eatery Back In Business

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Customers seen dining inside the Swamp Cave, which is 400 million years old, at the Batu Caves limestone hill.
THE resumption of business activities inside a 400-million-year-old limestone cave is raising public concerns about the long term effects on Selangor’s Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark (GHL Geopark) status.
The operations of the Gua Lepak food court in the Swamp Cave resumed just 10 months after the Gombak District and Land Office (PDTG) ordered it to cease operations as it was operating within the Batu Caves limestone hills.
Following public complaints, StarMetro visited the site at Taman Industri Bolton and found that it was business as usual for the operator.
Checks on the operator’s social media pages confirmed it had been back in business inside the cave, since early October.
While the operator is licensed by Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) to carry out business outside the cave, it is however not permitted to set up tables and chairs inside the Swamp Cave.
When contacted, MPS said the operator had not submitted any application to use the cave as a dining venue.
“We carried out enforcement with PDTG in March last year. Tables and chairs were confiscated from the cave because there was no approval granted by any of the authorities.
StarMetro report on March 15, 2024.
“The business owner is only permitted to operate outside the cave,” said an MPS spokesperson.
The management of Gua Lepak food court faced public backlash last year, after it was discovered to be operating within the ancient cave that is part of the Batu Caves Reserve.
When asked if the operator’s action might jeopardise the state’s goal of obtaining Unesco recognition in 2028, newly appointed Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling said she would need to consult the authorities on the matter.
“We need to check with the local agencies as enforcement is their responsibility.
“There is an urgent need for a dedicated unit within Tourism Selangor to oversee the management of the GHL Geopark,” she said.
“This is a vast area, and the main challenge lies in the lack of awareness.
“While we want to boost tourism, it is equally crucial to focus on sustainable tourism development.
“Without proper planning, the consequences can be alarming.”
Chua highlighted the need to educate the public about the geopark, noting that many were unaware of its significance or even the boundaries.
“The geopark is one of our precious assets.
“Selangor is home to many hidden gems that deserve greater recognition and must be protected,” she said.
In March last year, PDTG director Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz confirmed that the food court was located on Selangor government land and that the operator had never applied for permission to carry out activities there.
At the time of reporting, the district office did not respond to queries on the reopening of the restaurant.
Spanning 112,955ha across the Gombak and Hulu Langat districts, the GHL Geopark features 31 geosites, 20 of which are recognised as eco- and geo-tourism areas with natural and geological landscapes.
The Batu Caves limestone hills are one of the 20 geosites.
On Nov 16, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah officially declared the GHL Geopark as the state’s first national geopark.
The cave trespass was first reported in a StarMetro report on March 11, 2024, titled “Food court in Gombak cave stirs up concerns” which highlighted concerns over the encroachment as it could jeopardise Selangor’s bid for Unesco Global Geopark recognition.
Following a series of reports, Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia Department (JMG) confirmed that no application had been submitted for activities in the cave.
JMG also emphasised the need for proposals to comply with limestone safety guidelines.
JMG director-general Datuk Zamri Ramli said any proposed development in or near a limestone hill must comply with the department’s “Guideline for Determination of Hazard Zones” at limestone areas to ensure safety. - Star

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