Finally, a RIP place for Kota Damansara
28/03/2007 The Star By Salina Khalid

THE first Muslim cemetery in Kota Damansara will be ready next month, according to Kota Damansara state assemblyman Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan.

He said the cemetery, located in Section 8, will receive its first 'occupant' in April.

“Currently, there is no cemetery for Muslims in Kota Damansara. “We have about 60,000 Muslims here but, sadly, there is no cemetery for them.

“Instead, we have to go elsewhere and some have to be brought to sites that are quite a distance from their home,” said Mokhtar who is also the Selangor housing, building and squatter management committee chairman.

He added that the State Gover-nment had allocated 20.2ha of what was formerly known as the Sungai Buloh Forest Reserve for the graveyard.

We disagree: Dr Salleh (left) with residents during the protest.

He said a groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on March 17 and earthworks are currently being carried out on the first 0.22ha.

The nearest Muslim cemeteries are located in Kampung Melayu Subang and Sungai Buloh.

Asked whether the residents were aware of the plan, Mokhtar said a briefing was held with Kota Damansara residents several times.

“We have conducted talks with the residents and the surau autho-rities and they agreed to it,” he said, adding that the cemetery would be well maintained.

The graveyard will emulate the Muslim cemetery in Putrajaya and be furnished with landscaping.

Meanwhile, several Section 8 residents, who are occupying bungalow lots nearby said they would prefer the cemetery be located elsewhere.


Fenced in: The area has already been boarded up and works are set to be completed by next month.
“I am not against the cemetery because we all have to go there one day but why do they have to have it here.

“Why can't they choose a vacant place away from residential units.

“They can have it along the main road near RRI instead and they would not have to chop down precious trees for it,” said Mohamad Akwal Sultan.

Mohamad added that he noticed the land-clearing work over the weekend when he saw some heavy machinery in the area.

During a visit on Tuesday, the site, located opposite Taman Rimba Riang, a public park in Section 8, has been fenced up with land clearing activities going on inside.

“We are concerned about losing a precious green lung. The forest should be maintained as a green lung and recreational area for residents,” said Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) programme manager Maye Yap Siew.

MNS and a coalition of residents from several areas in Kota Damansara who call themselves Friends of Kota Damansara have been fighting to protect the area from development.

Established in 1898, it is believed to be the oldest forest reserve in Peninsular Malaysia.

However, the area was de-gazetted in the early 1990s for housing development, leaving a small pocket of green that included the nearby Kota Damansara Community Forest Park in Sect 10.

The park is the last remaining green area of what was previously a 1,600ha forest reserve.

Despite having been logged numerous times in the past, MNS has confirmed that the area is still rich with tree and plant species.

Both MNS and Friends of Kota Damansara have been organising regular activities at the site.

The activities include nature walks, bird-watching and night trekking for nature lovers.

Currently, the land belongs to the Selangor Government.