PASIR GUDANG: The Johor government has allocated RM1.3mil to build a centre to offer prayers for last rites for the Indian community in Tanjung Langsat here, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Johor Mentri Besar said the centre will not only help funerals for the community in Pasir Gudang but in the whole state as well.
"This is the first centre for last rite prayers and the state has allocated 0.2ha of land to be developed within the next two years.
"The Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) has allocated RM1mil for the project, and another RM300,000 is from the state government," he said when met by reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony of the prayer centre in Tanjung Langsat here on Wednesday (Nov 16).
The development plan was supposed to start in 2018 but was postponed after the change in government, he added.
"We decided to revive this project because it was the legacy of the previous Johor Mentri Besar before me, who shared the same desire to help everyone regardless of race or religion.
"We also wanted to show that the government is a considerate government that aims to ensure the welfare of each and every community in the state," he added.
The programme was also attended by Tebrau parliamentary candidate Datuk Nicole Wong, Johor tourism, environment, heritage, and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar, and Kahang assemblyman R. Vidyananthan.
Meanwhile, Vidyananthan said that the centre will usually be used after the 16th day of the cremation process.
"This was one of the top wish lists made by the Indian community for the past 20 years, and now it has come true.
"We hope that with the development of this centre, we can help reduce the expenses for the funeral process," he said, adding that this is part of the government's effort to empower the Indian community.
