Crematorium and columbarium not a risk to public, says temple management

The Star, Tue, 10 May 2016

BY FARAH FAZANNA ZULZAHA

THE Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple management in Kajang is assuring residents that the proposed columbarium and crematorium project will not affect them.

The temple, which is managing the land located near Tiara Residence in Taman Damai Indah, had faced protests from nearby residents about the project.

Temple chairman Datuk K. Kirubakaran said they had no plans to privatise the land, as alleged by some residents.

“We are getting help from a private developer to modernise the crematorium and build a columbarium, which will benefit residents in the area,” he said.

He said the 4.09ha piece of land was given to the Kajang Hindu community to be used as a burial and cremation ground.

“In the 1980s, the management of the land was handed over to the temple,” he said, adding that the land use was converted to a non-Muslim graveyard and cremation site last year.

The Action Committee To Not Cremate Bodies Near Our Homes Campaign had protested against the project and sent a memorandum to the state government last month.

They alleged the project site was located on a steep slope which could pose a risk for landslides and that the project was unnecessary as there were similar facilities in Kajang.

Kirubakaran said the temple did not have the funds to construct modern facilities and thus had entered into a joint venture with Lotus Garden Memorial Park Sdn Bhd.

“The temple will still manage the crematorium and columbarium, not the developer,” he said.

He also said the money raised would go towards funding social programmes.

Underprivileged families would be subsidised if they use the crematorium, he added.

Kirubakaran also assured residents that the road leading to the proposed site would be a dual carriageway and funeral processions would not create traffic congestion.

He said the developer would ensure that steps were taken to prevent landslides and floods during and after construction and had hired a technical expert to look into the matter.

It was earlier reported that the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) had approved the temple’s planning submission to expand the graveyard.

The temple had also submitted its infrastructure and building plans but MPKj had yet to approve it as the matter would decided by the state government.