The new and affordable columbarium with air-conditioned funeral parlour in Batu Gantong, Penang. —ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Management of five cemeteries upgrading premises, providing affordable final resting places
THE 220-year-old Penang United Hokkien Cemeteries (UHC) has outlined several plans for redeveloping and expanding its facilities.
Among the initiatives is the Mount Erskine Funeral Parlour and Columbarium, which has had its plans approved by the authorities.
Construction of a new columbarium of 27,600 niches is expected to begin at the end of the year.
Penang UHC president Datuk Cheah Cheng Ean said the project would benefit residents from Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.
“In addition, we also plan to convert the Paya Terubong Cemetery Pavilion into two air-conditioned funeral parlours by the end of this year,” he said at the opening of the newly completed funeral parlour and wall columbarium in Batu Gantong.
Established in 1804, UHC is a well-known service provider for burials, cremations, columbaria and funeral parlours in the state.
The cemeteries under its management are in Batu Gantong, Paya Terubong, Mount Erskine, Batu Lanchang and Teluk Bahang.
(Front row, from left) Cheah, Chow and Ooi checking out the new columbarium at the Batu Gantong facility.
In Batu Gantong, the new wall columbarium called “Leong Soo Koe” has 11,700 niches with each affordably priced, said Cheah, adding that the idea came from former UHC president Datuk Seri Steven Ooi.
The new funeral parlour, known as “How Qin Tong”, spans 3,600 sq ft and is fully air-conditioned.
“We aim to maintain our facilities in tip-top condition for Penang residents and all nationalities,” Cheah said, while thanking the state government for its support to UHC over the years.
Present at the event were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, social development, welfare and non-religious committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, state local government, country and town planning committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Syn Tze, Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan and Penang Island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
Chow, in his speech, thanked UHC for its significant commitment in improving funeral services for the people in Penang.
He assured that the state would collaborate with UHC to uplift funeral services for the people.
During the event, UHC presented RM135,000 to 12 charitable organisations for educational purposes.
