IPOH: The 155-year-old Nam Thean Tong Cave Temple has been served with an eviction notice from the Kinta District's Land Office.

       Temple trustee chairman Chan Kwai Hoong said they received the letter on Friday (Jan 7) and have been instructed to vacate the area within 30 days.

       "It is true that we do not have a lease. We have been trying to apply for it for decades but were not successful," he said when contacted.

       "There were also no reasons given to us as to why our applications were not approved," he added.

       Nam Thean Tong Temple, located next to the more popular Sam Poh Tong Temple, is one of the oldest cave temples and a popular tourist destination here.

       Chan said he hopes that the state would reconsider their application and also to gazette the land the temple is situated on for religious use.

       "We hope the Perak Mentri Besar will look into our case," he said, adding that he believes that there are a few other cave temples that are facing the same issue.

       Persatuan Penganut Naga Mas committee secretary Tan Kai Siang said they have also received the same notice on Friday for their temple - the Gua Naga Mas Cave Temple.

       Tan said their temple, located at Gua Naga Mas where the fossil of a tiger is found embedded in the cave wall in Gopeng, was set up in 2013 and added that the application to obtain a lease had been unsuccessful.

       "We hope to get a Temporary Occupation Licence and to work with the state to promote tourism here," he said.

       Several cave temple committees and Perak MCA will be meeting on the matter on Sunday (Jan 9) night.