A NEW 65-acre centralised Muslim cemetery at Batu 11 has been designated to address the growing shortage of burial space in the district.
Assistant Minister to the Local Government and Housing Ministry, Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, said the Taman Perkuburan Ar Raudah site would accommodate up to 36,400 burial plots, providing a long-term solution for Sandakan’s Muslim community.
Responding to a question from Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien Ching Qiang, he said the move comes as existing burial grounds, particularly at Kampung Berhala Darat, have reached maximum capacity.
“At present, only about 0.75 acres of additional land is available near the existing cemetery, but this is still insufficient, and there is no other suitable land within the village,” he said.