FEDERAL Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) has given an assurance that Muslim burial services will not be privatised under the Federal Territories Public Cemetery Development Project.
In a statement, Jawi director Hanifuddin Roslan said the land at Lot PT3458, in Hulu Semenyih, would remain under the Federal Lands Commissioner and has been gazetted as a 90.12ha public cemetery, Bernama reported.
He said the cemetery development was expected to be completed in 2029, before being handed over to the department for management.
“Once the cemetery becomes operational, Jawi will assume full responsibility for managing all burial affairs, including unclaimed bodies, burials and cemetery maintenance, as it does at the eight existing Raudhatul Sakinah Muslim cemeteries,” said Hanifuddin.
He said the project to address the shortage of burial land for Muslims, was being implemented through a land-swap arrangement between Route Edge Sdn Bhd and the Federal Government.
“Under the arrangement, the company will build a 4.34km access road connecting Sungai Lalang to the Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK) and provide a public cemetery site on the designated plot.
Hanifuddin said the cemetery would provide up to 104,000 burial plots and was projected to meet burial needs for up to 28 years.
The company will also build various facilities at the site, including an administrative office, a prayer hall, a funeral management area, quarters and a security post.
On Tuesday, Federal Territories PAS had raised concerns over the implementation of the project through a public-private partnership, including management rights, the concession period, and fee structures.
It also sought assurances that the Muslim cemetery would not be commercialised.
