In need of burial grounds

By CHRISTINA LOW 

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/6/7/central/11428370&sec=central

SELANGOR is running low on burial grounds and some of the local councils are in the process of seeking more land to accommodate the need.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who chaired a dialogue session with residents in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday night said there was a need to increase cemetery trust fund in the state to acquire suitable land for burial sites.

In March, Khalid announced the increase in rate from RM62.50 per lot to between RM300 and RM500, depending on the location of the residential lots to reflect the present land value.

“It is difficult for residents when they move into areas where there are no burial grounds. Then you have residents associations requesting for burial grounds to be built in the area,” he said.

He added that some developers would rather contribute to the burial trust fund than to offer land for burial grounds.

Eager to know: Residents signing up at the counter outside the hall before the dialogue session.

 

“We have to discuss this issue, it is not as simple as you think. We must let the residents know where the proposed areas are for future burial grounds.

“We do not want people to move into their homes and find that the lot next to them is a burial ground,” said Khalid while addressing the residents at the PJ Civic Hall.

In a report presented to the residents, Selangor Town and Country Planning Department (JPPD) deputy director Norasiah Bee Mohd Haniff said as of 2010 four councils — the Subang Municipal Council (MPSJ), Ampang Municipal Council (MPAJ), Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) did not have enough land for Muslim cemeteries.

She added that MBPJ was also one of the affected councils, when it came to burial grounds for non-Muslims, as most parts of the city had been taken up for development.

Mingling: Khalid (left) speaking to the residents after the dialogue session.

 

JPPD came up with two concepts to solve the issue — regional burial grounds and integrated burial grounds.

Norasiah said regional grounds meant development of burial grounds at a designated area that could accommodate the needs of several neighbouring local councils.

While integrated burial grounds is the development of cemeteries for all religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and others within the same area.

The identified spot would also see other facilities included such as crematoriums and columbariums.

She explained that all 11 local councils in the state would be divided into three zones; north, east and south.

MBPJ, MPSJ, Kuala Langat District Council (MDKL) and Sepang Municipal Council are listed under the south zone, where the proposed burial grounds for residents in these councils will be placed within the Sepang Municipal Council area.

Four spots have been identified and they are Lot 3366 in the Labu District , Lot 5756 in the Sepang District, a plot of land near the Rubber Research Institute Malaysia (RRIM) and the integrated burial ground in Hulu Langat.

A total area of 300.63ha has been identified as regional and integrated burial grounds for the state.

During the session, Section 6 RT chairman Rajesh Mansukhlal told Khalid that it was the responsibility of houseowners in the state to contribute to the cemetery trust fund and not those owning leasehold as freehold owners would be the one utilising the services in the future.

To this, Khalid said everyone had to pay the same fee regardless of whether they are leasehold or freehold houseowners.

Caring for the dead

By THO XIN YI 

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/3/30/central/11005296&sec=central

LANDOWNERS have to now pay a higher contribution to the state’s cemetery trust fund.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said this requirement was applicable to those seeking to transfer the ownership or convert the land use to residential or mixed development.

He said the fund was for the state government to acquire suitable land for burial sites.

He added that the old rate of RM62.50 per lot had been increased to either RM300 or RM500, depending on the locations of the residential lots to reflect the present land value.

“Previously, for residential development below 100ha, the contribution was RM62.50 per residential lot.

“However, the amount is too little compared with the current land value which increases every six months according to the Selangor Valuation and Property Services Department.

“Therefore, we are fixing RM500 for each residential lot in Petaling, Klang, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Sepang and Kuala Langat and RM300 for Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam and Hulu Selangor,” he said during the recent state assembly.

He said this in response to a question raised by Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh.

When met later, Yeoh said the question was asked based on the experience of Bukit Gasing residents, who were required to fork out RM500 for the fund when they wanted to renew their leasehold titles.

“They wanted to know what the money is used for.

“Some of them, especially non-Muslims, have already bought private burial plots, so they questioned the need for the contribution,” she said.

Yeoh said she would push for a meeting in Bukit Gasing for Khalid and the Land Office to explain the fund to the people.

“According to Khalid’s explanation, this contribution will be a long-term solution to the problem of insufficient cemeteries in the state.

“If the state government cannot afford to acquire land for cemeteries, it will be more expensive for the people to buy burial plots in the future,” she said.

Meanwhile, Khalid revealed that RM16.8mil had been collected for the fund as of December last year.

He added that all district land offices had been told to identify suitable sites that could be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act to be turned into cemeteries.

“The cost will be borne by the trust fund or relevant landowners or developers,” he said.

It was reported in 2003 that those owning 202ha of land or more must provide cemeteries for Muslims and non-Muslims in their development.

The then state executive councillor Datuk Mokhtar Dahalan was quoted as saying that those who could not do so had to provide alternative land, or contribute RM62.50 to the cemetery trust fund for each residential lot approved.

The fund will enable the government to buy land for cemeteries.

Protect Klang Gates Quartz Ridge and Selangor State Park from the proposed KL Outer Ring Road (KLORR)

To: The Malaysian Federal and Selangor State Government

We, the undersigned, are troubled by the proposal to align the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road across the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge and through the Selangor State Park.

We would like to draw your attention to the following concerns.

The Klang Gates Quartz Ridge is a world-class geological monument that is internationally recognized for the size, scale and splendour of its quartz dyke - the longest in the world - and, if not disturbed any more, stands every chance to be declared a World Heritage Site. The site also harbours a unique vegetation with five species of plants that are found nowhere else in the world, and our endangered wild goat (serow).

The former state government gazetted nine forest reserves as the Selangor State Park in 2007 in recognition of the need to protect their immense natural heritage value for present and future generations.

The many rare and threatened plant and animal species found in these increasingly rare lower altitude forests attest to its value. They include the merawan kanching tree, the gaharu tree, the tiger and the Malayan tapir, and eight threatened species of birds.

The proposed expressway will fragment and disturb habitats making it more difficult for threatened plant species to propagate and for animal species to hunt and forage for food, and to mate. It will also lend poachers easy access to coveted wildlife. Poaching remains a serious threat to our endangered animals.

The forests also provide a vital ecosystem service by serving as a catchment for clean water, a critical resource which is already in short supply in the state. Building and maintaining road infrastructure in the catchment will contaminate and reduce our clean water supply.

Other important ecosystem services that we receive from the Park include flood mitigation, slope protection and landslide prevention, and the presence of landscapes of great aesthetic and spiritual value. A highway will diminish all of these services.

We believe that better planning of townships and choice of transport infrastructure can provide a holistic long-term solution to the overcrowded roads and traffic woes that constantly beset us.

We, therefore, appeal to you and the authorities to protect the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge and the Selangor State Park from the proposed expressway and all other threats.

If you'd like to sign the petition, you may do so here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/KLORR/petition.html