 About 2,000 residents of Taman Saujana Puchong are facing a grave problem.
They are upset with the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) over a proposed plan to turn a neighbouring 50-acre forest reserve into a cemetery, and build a crematorium there, as well.
Originally, there was a plan by developer Talam Corporation Berhad to build a road across the said plot of land to connect Taman Saujana Puchong to Taman Lestari Putra.
What has irked them is that except for two residents, the rest were not consulted by MPSJ.
For the residents, there is also the fear that the crematorium would not only affect their health but items like burial ceremony paraphernalia would breed mosquitoes.
They also fear the value of their houses would be badly affected by the cemetery and crematorium.
At 10am yesterday, about 400 residents carrying banners and placards, staged a peaceful protest in front of the forest reserve.
Some of the banners and placards read, ‘Kami membantah cadangan pembinaan KUBUR di kawasan Saujana Puchong’ (We oppose the proposed development for CEMETERY at Saujana Puchong) and ‘Go move to Putrajaya!’.
During the gathering, they also carried out a signature campaign to be submitted to MPSJ. Over the past three months, they have collected 1,535 signatures.
Campaign pro-tem committee chairman Roland Chong said residents were unhappy with MPSJ as they were not informed about the proposed plan.
"All this while, we did not know the Selangor Government was planning to build the cemetery as the land was gazetted as a forest reserve when we bought our homes," he said, adding that the housing area was opened in 2003.
"If they (the Government) had just come out with this plan recently, they should have consulted the residents and discussed the matter.
"Logically, how can a forest reserve be turned into a cemetery?," he asked.
The Malay Mail learnt the forest reserve is an agricultural park owned by Universiti Putra Malaysia.
According to Chong, the residents heard about the plan in April last year, when an MPSJ officer informed them.
On April 25, two owners whose houses are located close to the forest reserve, each received a letter from MPSJ, stating the State Government was proposing to build a cemetery on the plot of land.
The duo were asked to submit their objections, if any.
"Why did the MPSJ send the letter only to the two house owners? What about the rest of us? We too, have the right to know.
"We bought our house with our hard-earned money. Of course, we want the value of our investment to keep increasing.
"With the cemetery, the value will go down. Who wants to buy a house which fronts a cemetery?," asked Chong.
A resident, Yew Mun Kong, is concerned about the health and environment, if a cemetery and crematorium were built.
"Smoke from a crematorium will cause health hazards, while items used during burial ceremonies, if not properly disposed of, will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes," he said.
Orang Asli resident Abu Bocho claimed the proposed plan would affect his income, and those of 14 other Orang Asli.
"We have a 75-hectare of orchard with palm trees, rubber trees and durian trees on the forest reserve.
"If our orchard is taken up for the cemetery, we will lose our income."
Also present at the protest were DAP NGO bureau chief Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew and Selangor DAP publicity secretary Lau Weng San.
Liu said he also wants the MPSJ to reconsider the location.
"Granted, we are facing shortage of cemetery land. In fact, we need more. But please, locate it somewhere at non-residential areas," he said.
MPSJ was not available for comment yesterday. source: Mlay Mail Online 05-12-2005
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