Kota Damansara Muslim Cemetery (Petaling Jaya)
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Finally, a RIP place for Kota Damansara
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.
Related Story:
Residents want greens, not graves
Muslim burial ground will have park concept
By SALINA KHALID
PETALING JAYA: Work on the first Muslim cemetery in the growing township of Kota Damansara here will continue despite objections by a group of residents.
Kota Damansara Mosque Development Committee chairman Shakir Husein Khalid said it would have a park concept similar to that in Putrajaya, with well-maintained landscaping.
There will be a surau and spotlights to make night burials easier.
For the project: Some of the residents from Kota Damansara showing their support for the cemetery in Section 9 Tuesday.
“This is something that residents here have been fighting for in the last 10 years,” he said, adding that a buffer zone of 30m would be created between the road and the first plot.
Shakir said work on the cemetery at Section 9 would be carried out in stages with the first phase to be ready next month.
The state government had allocated 20.2ha at what was formerly known as the Sungai Buloh forest reserve for the cemetery.
Work on the first 0.22ha, which would contain about 1,200 burial plots, started on March 17.
On Monday, about 100 residents, accompanied by members of the Malaysian Nature Society, staged a peaceful demonstration against the clearing of the forest to make way for the cemetery.
They called for the preservation of the forest and suggested that the cemetery be shifted to another location.
Yesterday, a handful of them turned up at a gathering of about 300 residents who came to show their support for the project. After several minutes of harsh verbal exchanges, the dissenters left.
The supporters of the project, who started gathering at about 4.30pm under the watchful eyes of several policemen, dispersed before the maghrib prayers started.
Residents want greens, not graves
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
Photos by GLENN GUAN
Mallek: The green lung should be preserved.
ABOUT 100 environmentally concerned residents staged a peaceful protest against the clearing of part of the Section 9 Kota Damansara Forest near Section 8 for a Muslim cemetery on March 26.
The residents collectively agreed they were not against the idea of a cemetery but were more concerned about the preservation of the green belt.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Datuk Dr Salleh Mohd Nor said it was ridiculous to cut down the forest as there were other areas that could be looked into for burial purposes.
He said the forest reserve was the last remaining low land forest close to Kuala Lumpur.
“It is ridiculous to chop down the trees for a cemetery as there is another area which can be developed for the purpose nearby.
“Proponents say the land there is rocky but what is so difficult in moving rocks when people can move mountains these days?” said Salleh.
The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) also used the area as a research forest as there were numerous plots of biodiversity and silviculture in the area.
In the late 80s, the Selangor State government de-gazetted the Forest Reserve for housing development to form the township of Kota Damansara and left about some of it as a botanical garden after objections by some parties.
Green attraction: Resident Zaitun Mansen holding up a newspaper advertisement for the area.
Resident Mohamed Akwal Sultan said the present residents of Kota Damansara were shown a map indicating the presence of a Botanical Garden, which was highlighted as the ‘green’ environment surrounding their township, and used as part of the sales pitch when they bought their homes.
“We bought the land with the assurance of having a botanical garden, not a cemetery,” he said, adding that he had seen monkeys scavenging in the housing area due to the forest clearing.
“We have nothing against the dead but we are more concerned about the green lung, especially with global warming that is already affecting our weather,” said resident Datuk Aziz Razak.
Another resident Mallek Rizal said the green lung should be preserved, as it was a forest area.
“The authorities should at least have discussed the matter with the residents most affected, those who live nearest to the forest,” said Mallek.
Related Story:
Finally, a RIP place for Kota Damansara
kotadamansara.fotopages.com/?entry=1128882
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.
Related Story:
Residents want greens, not graves
Muslim burial ground will have park concept
By SALINA KHALID
PETALING JAYA: Work on the first Muslim cemetery in the growing township of Kota Damansara here will continue despite objections by a group of residents.
Kota Damansara Mosque Development Committee chairman Shakir Husein Khalid said it would have a park concept similar to that in Putrajaya, with well-maintained landscaping.
There will be a surau and spotlights to make night burials easier.
For the project: Some of the residents from Kota Damansara showing their support for the cemetery in Section 9 Tuesday.
“This is something that residents here have been fighting for in the last 10 years,” he said, adding that a buffer zone of 30m would be created between the road and the first plot.
Shakir said work on the cemetery at Section 9 would be carried out in stages with the first phase to be ready next month.
The state government had allocated 20.2ha at what was formerly known as the Sungai Buloh forest reserve for the cemetery.
Work on the first 0.22ha, which would contain about 1,200 burial plots, started on March 17.
On Monday, about 100 residents, accompanied by members of the Malaysian Nature Society, staged a peaceful demonstration against the clearing of the forest to make way for the cemetery.
They called for the preservation of the forest and suggested that the cemetery be shifted to another location.
Yesterday, a handful of them turned up at a gathering of about 300 residents who came to show their support for the project. After several minutes of harsh verbal exchanges, the dissenters left.
The supporters of the project, who started gathering at about 4.30pm under the watchful eyes of several policemen, dispersed before the maghrib prayers started.
Residents want greens, not graves
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
Photos by GLENN GUAN
Mallek: The green lung should be preserved.
ABOUT 100 environmentally concerned residents staged a peaceful protest against the clearing of part of the Section 9 Kota Damansara Forest near Section 8 for a Muslim cemetery on March 26.
The residents collectively agreed they were not against the idea of a cemetery but were more concerned about the preservation of the green belt.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Datuk Dr Salleh Mohd Nor said it was ridiculous to cut down the forest as there were other areas that could be looked into for burial purposes.
He said the forest reserve was the last remaining low land forest close to Kuala Lumpur.
“It is ridiculous to chop down the trees for a cemetery as there is another area which can be developed for the purpose nearby.
“Proponents say the land there is rocky but what is so difficult in moving rocks when people can move mountains these days?” said Salleh.
The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) also used the area as a research forest as there were numerous plots of biodiversity and silviculture in the area.
In the late 80s, the Selangor State government de-gazetted the Forest Reserve for housing development to form the township of Kota Damansara and left about some of it as a botanical garden after objections by some parties.
Green attraction: Resident Zaitun Mansen holding up a newspaper advertisement for the area.
Resident Mohamed Akwal Sultan said the present residents of Kota Damansara were shown a map indicating the presence of a Botanical Garden, which was highlighted as the ‘green’ environment surrounding their township, and used as part of the sales pitch when they bought their homes.
“We bought the land with the assurance of having a botanical garden, not a cemetery,” he said, adding that he had seen monkeys scavenging in the housing area due to the forest clearing.
“We have nothing against the dead but we are more concerned about the green lung, especially with global warming that is already affecting our weather,” said resident Datuk Aziz Razak.
Another resident Mallek Rizal said the green lung should be preserved, as it was a forest area.
“The authorities should at least have discussed the matter with the residents most affected, those who live nearest to the forest,” said Mallek.
Related Story:
Finally, a RIP place for Kota Damansara
kotadamansara.fotopages.com/?entry=1128882
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 3°11'4"N 101°35'0"E
- Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery 7.6 km
- Raudhatul Sakinah KL-Karak (Tanah Perkuburan Islam) 13 km
- Kampung Baru Muslim Cemetery 14 km
- Puchong / Subang Jaya Muslim Cemetery 18 km
- Seksyen 35 Alam Impian Muslim Cemetery 21 km
- Alif Muslim Cemetery 301 km
- Muslim Cemetery 308 km
- Muslim Cemetery 309 km
- Mohammadpur Public cemetery 2589 km
- Muslim Cemetery 3949 km
- Rizab Taman Botani Sungai Buloh 1.1 km
- Damansara Damai PJU 10 1.2 km
- Kota Damansara 1.8 km
- Kota Damansara Seksyen 5 2.2 km
- Kwasa Damansara PJU 4 (formerly RRIM) 3.2 km
- Bandar Sri Damansara PJU 9 3.7 km
- Subang Bestari 3.9 km
- Kepong 6.2 km
- Gombak District 13 km
- Selangor 22 km
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