Foreigners laid to rest in Batu Arang

 

 

 

RESIDENTS claim dozens of foreigners have been buried at a Christian cemetery in Batu Arang.

Batu Arang Indian Progressive Front branch chairman Julius Ceaser, 52, claimed this had been going on since 2011 but stopped after a police report was lodged last year.

However, last month, Ceaser said he saw two bus loads of foreigners attending a funeral at the Christian cemetery, which is located within Hindu burial grounds.

Ceaser then asked for the burial permit and documents but there were none.

Ceaser, who was appointed the Christian cemetery coordinator by the Sri Bala Ganesar Temple Batu Arang committee which runs the Hindu cemetery, lodged a report on Aug 23 at the Batu Arang police station on the matter.

He claimed there were also shallow graves located in the jungle nearby that had no tombstones.

“There is even a walking path leading to the area in the jungle.

“The graves are dug and the deceased buried at night when there is nobody around,” he told the media during a site visit yesterday.

 

Julius Ceaser pointing at one of the dozens of shallow grave located inside the jungle next to the Batu Arang christian cemetery.

The Christian cemetery has dozens of tombstones bearing foreign-sounding names including Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian and other Asian countries.

Batu Arang D’One Social and Welfare Association chairman Ali Nordin speculated that some of the dead were terminally-ill foreigners who had been staying in halfway houses in the area.

“I believe a syndicate is handling the funeral services for these deceased foreigners.

“The graveyard should only be for locals and I hope the authorities will do something.

“The cemetery should also be fenced up so only authorised people can enter,” said Ali.