A July 22 StarMetro report about the proposed site in Bukit Antarabangsa.
AMPANG Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is setting its sights on Jalan Kolam Air, off Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama, for its crematorium project following protests by residents against a proposal to build it in Bukit Antarabangsa.
MPAJ Public Relations and Secretariat Division head Norhayati Ahmad said the proposed site was now at the 60-year-old Ampang/Ulu Kelang Hindu Cemetery.
“MPAJ has evaluated the proposal based on suitability of the site, traffic generation impact, real estate value as well as other considerations after residents of Bukit Antarabangsa objected.
“Based on this, the decision was made to consider another location,” she said.
Indrakaran says space is needed at the cemetery for future burials.
However, the new proposed site is also being objected to by the Hindu Cemetery Crematorium Ampang Association.
Its honorary chairman Dr Indrakaran T. Karthigesu said there was no space to build a crematorium on the burial grounds.
“This is an old site with limited space. We have to allocate the remaining space for future burials.
“The council is already building an anaerobic digestion plant (AD) on the grounds. A crematorium will take up more space,” he said when contacted.
However, Indrakaran said the association was willing to discuss the matter with MPAJ.
This is not the first time that MPAJ proposed for a crematorium to be built in Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama.
StarMetro reported in 1999 that MPAJ would spend RM500,000 to build a crematorium for the Chinese and Indian communities in Jalan Kolam Air. However, this plan did not materialise.
MPAJ councillor R. Moganraj said a meeting was being planned for Aug 14 to gather feedback from the community on the new proposed location.
“We are inviting some 200 people representing Hindu temples and non-governmental organisations in Selangor for a briefing on the crematorium proposal at Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama.
“This will also be an opportunity for us to hear their concerns and suggestions,” he said.
During a state assembly session last year, the Selangor government announced that three more crematoriums would be built in the state with a two-year date-of-completion target.
It was reported then that planning permission for two crematoriums in Ijok and Jeram under the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council and another in Mukim Beranang by Kajang Municipal Council had been approved.
Currently, there are seven crematoriums in Selangor – two each under Shah Alam City Council and Petaling Jaya City Council, and one each under Subang Jaya City Council, Klang Municipal Council and Sepang Municipal Council.
