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.