Thursday, July 17, 2008

THURSDAY 17 JULY 2008- THREE NEW MUSLIM CEMETERIES FOR TAWAU


Three new Muslim cemeteries for Tawau

KOTA KINABALU:

Three sites in Tawau covering a total of 120acres have been identified for the construction of new Muslim cemeteries, easing the pressure on the town’s over-crowded Muslim cemetery. JHEAINS Director Haji Amri A Suratman said the three locations are in Kampung Kijang Merotai Besar (50 acres), KampungPasirPutth(2oacres) and Hot Spring (50 acres). “We have informed the Tawau Municipal Council and the applications for the sites are still in the process after we obtained early agreement from the various relevant authorities, including the District Development Committee Council,” he said. According to Amri, the new cemeteries will offer an alternative to the existing cemetery, although one at Kampung Kijang Merotai Besar is rather far from town. “We don’t have any other choice,” said Amri, adding that there is a suggestion to dig up the old graves, a practice which is accepted in Islam but may not be deemed appropriate by the local people. Asked about the poor maintenance as reported before,Amri said JHEAlNS had not received any complaint regarding the matter. He also urged the relevant authorities to maintain the Muslim cemetery in good condition as required by Islam, saying the Chinese cemetery in Batu 7 is by comparison, better maintained.

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