Kota Kinabalu: The State Government will ensure that the need for burial land for Muslims and non-Muslims residing within the city perimeters gets due attention.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor said City Hall (DBKK) and the Land and Survey Department (JTU) have been asked to identify suitable vacant lands in Inanam, Menggatal and Kepayan for use as burial grounds.
“The existing cemetery is getting full day by day and the population is also increasing. So we need a new cemetery in this city to meet the needs for next 30 or 40 years.
“I asked JTU to look into this matter as a necessity. Look for any empty land in Inanam, Menggatal and Kepayan, not only for Muslims but also non-Muslims,” he said.
Hajiji said this when handing over the land title of Taman Sempelang Islamic Cemetery from JTU director Datuk Bernard Liew to the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) Chief Executive Officer Ramlan Ali, at Taman Sempelang, Sembulan, Sunday.
At the ceremony, Hajiji announced the approval of the land next to the Taman Sempelang Islamic cemetery of 2.14-acre owned by DBKK for burials.
“Today, in addition to handing over of the Kampung Sembulan Islamic cemetery gazette, I would like to inform the people of Sembulan and Tanjung Aru that the open land that used to be for DBKK in Taman Sempelang has been turned into the Islamic cemetery of Kampung Sembulan and Tanjung Aru.”
He said the expansion of the (Taman Sempelang) cemetery was important since the existing one is full to the point of troubling local residents to find the burial locations of family members.
“There is lack of burial ground for Muslims in Sembulan, Tanjung Aru and around Kota Kinabalu
“I have already mentioned to the Mayor and Director of the Department of Islamic Religious Affairs (Jheains) to think of a cemetery area for city folks,” Hajiji said.
Hajiji also disclosed a plan to develop the area near Harbour City under proposed mixed development if the original owners agree, including constructing housing park specifically for them.
“We have the proposal and if the original owners of the concerned land in Sembulan agree, we will develop the area and give priority to the original residents who do not have a house now. We will give them a house,” he said.
Hajiji was referring to the status of Kampung Sembulan’s water village land which is located next to Harbor City.
If the development (near Harbour City) of about 30 acres is approved, it will be given to a developer who is willing to first build a housing park for the residents to move in and after completion, develop the remaining land area.
“We received several proposals. Whatever we decide must get approval of the people from Sembulan.
“The discussion is already in the final stages and God willing, we will choose a developer who will develop the housing for the original Sembulan residents to live in,” he said.
On the type of housing to be built, he said the concept is more or less the same as Grace Court.
He said if such development plan is realised, there would be no more water villages as the residents would be placed in proper housing development that would be well-organised.
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