Rock formations in cave not damaged, says eatery operator

THE idea behind starting Gua Lepak food court in Gombak, Selangor was to offer a distinctive dining experience within a 400 million-year-old cave and its geological marvels, says the operator.

Chief operations officer Muhammad Aidid Haiqal Ismail said it took his family nearly two years to transform the cave into a suitable dining venue.

“We ensured safety by cementing the floors and clearing out large rocks and sand.

“We wanted to make it comfortable for diners,’’ he said, adding that they did not destroy the rock formations, but merely painted them over.

Gua Lepak is situated in the Batu Caves area which is one of the geosites within Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark (GHL Geopark).

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Muhammad Aidid said it was the only place in the Klang Valley where one could experience dining in a cave.

He said his father had obtained a grant for the piece of land in front of the ground-level cave in Taman Industri Bolton, Gombak, Selangor.

Acknowledging that permission was needed to occupy the cave, Muhammad Aidid hoped the state government would see the potential in what they were doing.

“We are not declaring that the cave is ours and we know that some complaints have been made to the authorities.

Some cave formations have been partially painted or bricked around.

“Before this, no one tried to claim it (the cave) as theirs, but only when we started Gua Lepak, some parties tried to claim part of it as theirs.

“They made reports saying that we ‘stole’ the cave and are doing things illegally,” he said.

“We have a licence to operate, so we are not doing it illegally.”

Muhammad Aidid said over RM1mil was spent, over the years, to develop the place and that any profit made was used to improve Gua Lepak, which had gone through many iterations.

“It was previously a quarry. About 10 years ago, my father set up the D’Gua Al Khafi Culture Village and event space, with the cave as a tourist attraction,” he said.

Muhammad Aidid says Gua Lepak is the only place in the Klang Valley where one can experience dining in a cave.

In 2020, when the movement restrictions started due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the business model had to be changed due to the lack of tourists, he added.

Muhammad Aidid, who ventured into the food truck business, planned to create a unique gathering place for families and friends.

“We came up with the concept for Gua Lepak as a family-friendly hangout spot, with the cave as part of the dining area,” he said, adding that the place opened for business in March last year.

Along with the food court, there are also rooms for a homestay experience, karaoke, arcade machines and a games room on the premises.

He said it took about two years to revamp the area and the caves to make the place suitable for dining.

Muhammad Aidid added that three water pumps were installed to prevent flooding at the cave.

“We did not disturb the natural structures or smoothen the sides or roof of the cave.

“We only painted some portions of the cave walls to make the place look nice.”

Muhammad Aidid hoped the state government would support their efforts and help turn the cave food court into a tourist destination.