The State government is planning to close Mount Kyaik Htee Yoe, also known as Golden Rock located in Kyaikto Township in Mon State.

According to Saw Aung Myint Khine, the Karen Affairs Minister from the Mon State government, the closure is intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We are meeting today for the shutdown of Kyaik Htee Yoe. We are preparing for it,” said the Karen Affairs Minister.

He added, that although he is not a spokesperson of the state government, he believes the state government will soon announce the exact date of Kyaik Htee Yoe’s closure.

Over ten thousand people reside alongside Mount Kyaik Htee Yoe and there are thousands of shops.  

Following the State Hluttaw monthly meeting yesterday, a letter was sent to the Mon State government to request suspending  the Kyaik Htee Yoe pilgrimage as soon as possible, reported Dr. Aung Naing Oo, Deputy Speaker of the Mon State Hluttaw.

“We want the Kyaik Htee Yoe pilgrimage program to be temporarily suspended. We heard that the state government is holding a meeting today, so we believe that they took our message seriously. We are looking forward to the release of the closure plan as soon as possible,” said Dr. Aung Naing Oo.

Nearly 6000 local and 200 foreign tourists visit Kyaik Htee Yoe Pagoda every day.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 is a pandemic disease.  The President’s Office also announced on March 13th restrictions of mass gathering and public events until the end of April.

Reported by: Akka Non