JOHOR BARU: A special complex for the Indian community to perform final rites will be relocated from Tanjung Langsat to Teluk Jawa, says Johor tourism, environment, heritage and culture committee chairman K Raven Kumar.
He said the necessary approvals for the 0.66ha site, which belongs to the state government, would be processed within the next two months.
ALSO READ: No proper send-off for the dead
“This site will be nearer to Johor Baru. The old location in Tanjung Langsat has been deemed unsuitable for security reasons.
"As such. Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi directed for a new site to be identified as soon as possible,” he said after bringing a group of local leaders to tour the new site in Teluk Jawa on Friday (Sept 1).
Asked if this was an election ploy – the Pulai parliamentary by-election is next week, on Sept 9 – as ground-breaking for the RM1.3mil complex in Tanjung Langsat was done by Onn Hafiz before GE15 last year, Raven Kumar said it was just a coincidence.
He added that Onn Hafiz was serious about tackling issues faced by the Indian community.
ALSO READ: ‘Centre for last rites not intentionally delayed’
“He has (already) chaired at least two meetings on this issue," he said, adding that the relocated project would go straight to the construction phase without any ground-breaking ceremony.
Raven Kumar added that temporary operations could begin at the new site in a few months' time while the permanent building is constructed.
Asked about talk that local community leaders were given the runaround while searching for the new site, Raven Kumar stressed that securing the Teluk Jawa location had been a team effort.
The Star recently reported on a recent gathering of about 35 Indian-based NGOs and temples urging the Johor government and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) to expedite the completion of the RM1.3mil complex in Tanjung Langsat.
They claimed that the lack of such a facility was a problem the community had faced for more than 20 years.
As such, they said, families were forced to perform final rites for their loved ones beside the road along Pantai Lido, which they deemed embarrassing.
ALSO READ: Special meet on July 18 to discuss Tanjung Langsat centre for last rites
There has been talk that the stalled complex was among the hot-button issues not just in Pulai but also among the Indian community in Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang, Tebrau and Iskandar Puteri.
On the Pulai by-election, Raven Kumar – who is also national MIC Youth chief – said the party was doing its best to reach out to voters in Pulai and the Simpang Jeram state seat.
In any by-election, he said, voter numbers will be lower but the party was trying to reach as many voters as possible through small gatherings rather than big ceramah.
“Önn Hafiz will also be meeting with the community in Pulai today (Friday) to listen to their issues,” he added.
The Pulai parliamentary constituency has 166,653 registered voters, 12.31% (20,508) of whom are Indian. The community makes up 2.53% (1,027) of Simpang Jeram's 40,014 registered voters.
Both seats fell vacant following the death of their elected representative Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.
Polling day on Sept 9 will see three-cornered fights in both seats involving incumbent Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Independents.
