Gunung Kanthan limestone notch at critical risk of collapse, expert warns

A geoheritage expert has warned that the limestone notch at Gunung Kanthan, home to the Dhamma Sakyamuni Cave Monastery, is dangerously unstable and at risk of collapse at any moment. Dr. Ibrahim Komoo explained that the formation, created over tens of thousands of years by the dissolution of limestone, lacks firm support for the suspended limestone blocks.

He stated that the condition is critical due to water seepage through the natural cement holding the blocks together, which has weakened the structure. Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that predicting the exact timing of a collapse and guaranteeing safety are impossible due to ongoing changes within the rock. He noted that water entering rock fissures acts as a lubricant, facilitating limestone block movement and increasing the likelihood of collapse.

The collapse could be triggered by heavy rain, minor tremors, quarry blasting, or earthquakes. The formation features two layers of notches separated by about five to six meters, and vertical cracks along the limestone walls indicate previous collapses. Dr. Ibrahim strongly advised against building any permanent accommodations in caves, citing that caves are not suitable for human habitation.

He also pointed out that existing guidelines prohibit house construction within twice the height of a limestone cliff, although some parties have sought to lower this requirement to 1.5 times the cliff height. The issue gained attention after controversy over the eviction and threatened demolition of the Dhamma Sakyamuni Cave Monastery for quarrying activities, prompting the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia to investigate.