Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) will consider the proposal to build an access road to the gazetted Islamic burial ground in Telupid.
Assistant Minister Datuk Samad Jambri said it recognises the urgent need for access to the area, as it is currently the only designated Islamic cemetery in Telupid.
“Given the importance of this road, the Ministry will consider the proposal and raise the matter for further attention and approval,” he said.
Earlier, Datuk Jonnybone J. Kurum (PBS–Telupid), in his supplementary question, highlighted the lack of road access to the 20-acre cemetery, which forced some families to bury their dead in neighbouring villages at a high cost, and in some cases, even in forest reserves.
He also requested an update on the proposed road construction, which he mentioned had been raised quite some time ago.
In response, Samad explained that the Telupid District Office had submitted a formal application to the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) regarding the proposed new road to the cemetery.
“The latest information received by my Ministry indicates that the proposed road does not fall under the project funding criteria of Jheains. Their cemetery provisions only cover internal access roads within the burial site compound, not external access roads leading to the site,” he said.
“My Ministry does have programmes under minor allocation provisions. However, due to limited funding under these provisions, I am concerned that the application for a new access road may not be sufficient to cover the overall construction cost,” Samad added.