KUALA LUMPUR: In less than five years, Muslim cemetery lots in mosque communities in Kuala Lumpur, particularly in high-density areas, are projected to be full.
Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) director Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail today said nineteen mosque community cemeteries were nearly at eighty-three per cent capacity.
"Up to July 2024, the remaining cemetery lots in Kuala Lumpur amount to 9,957 lots, or 16.26 per cent of the total existing 61,235 burial lots.
"The remaining cemetery lots can accommodate burials only for the next three to five years.
"There are seven Raudhatul Sakinah Muslim Cemeteries (TPIRS) under Jawi's management, with a capacity to accommodate 145,257 bodies."
Ajib said up to last month, TPIRS cemetery lots had only 15,606 lots remaining, or 10.74 per cent.
"So TPIRS is expected to be able to operate for only another two to four years.
"The cemeteries under the supervision of City Hall on Jalan Kuari, Cheras, have been closed.
"Two more cemeteries on Jalan Ampang have around 400 lots left and are expected to last less than two years.
"The situation at the Putrajaya cemetery, managed by the Putrajaya Corp, is nearly similar, with about 4,500 lots remaining. These are expected to last for six to seven years."
He said this while speaking at the Muslim Cemetery Transformation and Funeral Management Convention at the Putrajaya Islamic Complex.
Ajib said mosque community cemeteries in the Federal Territories were no longer suitable for upgrades, as they had reached an average usage of 82.11 per cent.
"It is difficult to find new cemetery land in Kuala Lumpur due to urban density, population growth and skyrocketing property prices.
"Jawi may need to take controversial steps, either by reclaiming land to add another layer of graves, or by exhuming bodies and consolidating bones into a quarter of the land, with the remaining land becoming new cemetery grounds."
Some people had suggested turning cemeteries into hybrid parks, but he said that although both actions were permitted by the fatwa of the Federal Territories mufti, they would be controversial because they touched on religious sensitivities.
"Some secular ideas have emerged on cemetery parks.
"There are proposals to upgrade Raudhatul Sakinah into a hybrid park and public park for recreational activities, such as jogging and picnicking.
"Jawi must firmly defend the fact that Raudhatul Sakinah is sacred land that must be preserved."
He said Jawi saw the cemetery land issue as something that must be planned and prepared for Muslims in the Federal Territories in the near future.
"In line with this need, studies and research on this matter have been conducted, and Jawi is ready to develop it if it's given the mandate to implement it."