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The Malaysian Deputy Minister Should Explain His Part In The Proposed Kuala Lumpur Burial Land Privatisation Project
Part of the speech by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong during the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill in Parliament on 17 July 2000.

 
In the last over 100 years, many Chinese Associations as well as Singhalese Buddhists, Hindu and Sikhs have been managing the 500-acre burial land along the Old Airport Road, Sungai Besi Road and Loke Yew Road, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They are Kwang Tung
Association, Hokkein Association, Catholic cemetery, Japanese cemetery, Singhalese Buddhist cemetery, Hindu and Sikh crematoriums. This is a prime land in Kuala Lumpur.

Various methods have been used by certain people including the Prime
Minister's name to persuade the associations to agree to the acquisition
of the burial land and the relocation of the graves to Semenyih, Selangor. Although we would like to see development in Kuala Lumpur, we believe that the Prime Minister is sensitive to the tradition, culture and religion of the races.

Because the people feel that the Government lacks transparency, accountability and sensitivity, they are not happy with the proposed burial land acquisition. With such a sensitive matter, the Government should have sought public opinion before taking any action. Respect and tolerance are important among the races.

The people do not know what actually happened before, during and after the signing of the agreement between Pribena Construction Sdn Bhd and the Selangor Hokkien Association on 20 April 1998.

Extract from some parts of the agreement is as follows:

(A) The Company (Pribena) hereby declares that it has been appointed by the Government of Malaysia ("the Government") to undertake the removal and relocation of all existing graves and remains from the Jalan Sungai Besi and Jalan Loke Yew cemetery (hereinafter referred to as the "Existing Site") to a new site to be developed by the Company provisionally known as Lot 1147, Mukim Hulu Semenyih, Daerah Hulu Langat, Selangor Darul Ehsan (hereinafter referred to as the "New Site").
(B) Selangor Hokkein Association, SHA, is a registered society and represents the interests of the Hokkein community and in particular has administrative authority over a portion of the Existing Site known as the "Hokkein Cemetery".....

(C) The Company has agreed with SHA to remove and relocate the graves and remains from the Hokkein Cemetery to the New Site.
3. In further consideration of the premises herein contained, the Company agrees to erect and complete within 36 months of the Government handling over the SHA Site to the Company and approval of all the relevant authorities for the construction thereon whichever shall be later, the following buildings and facilities on the SHA site:

(1) One temple and congregation area with a gross built up area of approximately 20,000 square feet. The congregation area shall be capable of seating a maximum of 800 people. The shrine of the temple shall be enclosed by walls on three sides;

(2) One 5-storey pagoda/columbarium with a gross built-up area of approximately 200,000 square feet and a covered shrine at the front portion thereof for the statue of "Di Zhang Wang";

(3) One "Soul Hall" with seven compartments with a gross built up area of approximately three thousand five hundred square feet together with toilets and other amenities;

(4) One crematorium hall with a gross built up area of approximately 4,000 square feet with three incinerators;

(5) Three units of 3-storey linked caretaker's quarters-cum-office with gross built up area of appoximately 15,500 square feet together with toilets and other amenities;
(6) One enclosed store with gross built up area of approximatel 500 square feet with an adjoining one open-sided garage with gross built up area of 500 square feet;

(7) Separate public toilet facilities for male and female visitors

with total combined gross built up area of approximately 500 square feet;

(8) One traditionally styled entrance arch with decorative Chinese motifs;

(9) Seven units of open-sided sheltered resting areas each with gross built up area not exceeding 150 square feet;

(10) Five feet high chain link fencing to be provided along the boundary of the SHA Site;

(11) All appropriate roads, infrastructure, parking areas, and landscaping as may be necessary. The main road within the SHA Site shall be 66 feet wide.

There are many paragraphs in the agreement. Another paragraph reads:

10 (iv) The Company entering into agreements on terms acceptable to the Company with other relevant associations and parties on the Existing Site for relocation of all graves and remains from the Existing Site to the New Site unless SHA elects to waive this condition. If the terms and conditions in the agreement(s) between the Company and the other association(s) and party(ies) are more favourable than those contained herein, then notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, such more favourable terms and conditions shall be implied and deemed to be incorporated into this Agreement and the relevant existing provisions hereof shall be deemed amended mutatis mutandis and such more favourable terms and conditions shall be enforceable by SHA as if they form part of this Agreement.
Provided always that in the event:

(a) any one or more or all of the other relevant associations and parties on the Existing Site does/do not enter into agreement(s) with the Company for relocation of all graves and remains from the Existing Site to the New Site; and/or

(b) the Company is not in the position to commence works in respect of facilities to be constructed on the SHA Site pursuant to Clause 3 hereof, and/or works on the SHA Site described in Clause 5 hereof and/or the Works as defined in Clause 7.1 hereof
within 36 months from the date hereof, SHA shall be entitled at its own discretion to rescind and terminate this Agreement forthwith by notice in writing to the Company whereupon this Agreement shall become null and void and of no further effect and neither party shall have any further rights or claims against the other in relation to this Agreement or in respect of any cost or expense incurred by it prior to termination of this Agreement.

Signed for and on behalf of Pribena Construction Sdn Bhd by Cheong Wee Wong, IC 7677550, Faizal Ahmad Stalin, IC 730904-10-5871, Yeo Wee Liam IC 5189359 and Soh Wee Hock IC 581213-11-5169.

Signed for and on behalf of the Selangor Hokkien Association by Tan Sri Dato' Low Keng Seng, IC 3848617, Dato' Kerk Choo Ting, IC 2653340, Mr Ng Beh Tong, IC 3664647, and Mr Soo Thien Ming, IC 798623.

The Deputy External Trade and Industry Minister must explain what actually happened leading to the signing of the agreement. It is possible that a structural plan for the burial land has been drawn up for a major township.

On 8 April 1998, the Director-General of the Economic Planning Unit Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman implied that the proposed relocation of the graves and the development of the burial land is a privatisation project.

We want transparency, accountability and care for sensitivity of the people. The parts played by the Gerakan Deputy President and Deputy Minister Datuk Kerk Choo Ting, the Economic Planning Unit and the Pribena company over the burial land privatisation project should be made public.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw


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