In The Star on November 14 there was an article on the theft of crystal from caves in Perlis. It mentioned that crystal stones, stalagmites and stalactites were being hacked out of the caves and sold. The article went on to say that the Land and Mines department would investigate the matter. I wonder if they have.

On the same page was an article advising the use of cement for roads to reduce the import of bitumen. Of course no mention was made of the destruction of caves to produce this cement. Then in the NST on Dec 8, Dr Mahathir said. "Although we can produce enough cement to meet our needs, cement production destroys our beautiful limestone hills. We can reduce demand for cement by using more steel."

In July 1997 I saw large chunks of crystal had been removed from outside a cave in the Kuantan area. And I remember Ruth Kiew telling me that cave pearls were being taken from a cave in Perlis.

I am worried that this is just the start of the problem. The Malaysian general public is only just becoming aware of the use of crystals, and therefore the demand for crystals is going to grow. The last time I was in Mulu (yes in the National Park) I was asked by some of the registered tour guides to collect some crystals for them!*

I know that for years people have been collecting naturally sculptured limestone rocks for use in ornamental gardens and ponds. This is not too much of a problem provided that the stones are only removed from outside the cave. I remember in 1993 at Kota Gelanggi seeing 2 men filling up a truck with such rocks.

My concern is for the cave crystals, stalagmites and stalactites. These are being removed from deep inside caves, and are irreplaceable. The crystals have taken tens of thousands of years to form, whereas the crystals were actually formed when the cave itself was formed, hundreds of millions of years ago. If people really want these crystals, they should search in quarries where there are always crystals lying about from the blasted rocks.

As I have written before (MN 1997, Vol. 50 No. 4 p.30), there is little or no protection for caves in Malaysia. I don't know if the Land and Mines Department or any other national body can do anything, or if people can be prosecuted for theft from caves.

Please can I urge all MNS members and their friends NOT to buy any such crystals. Please help to preserve the caves.

Liz Price (Letter from a concerned Selangor Branch Member)
(*Take down the names and licence number of such tour guides and report them to the Authorities)