Group seeks talks over Muslim graves at May 13 cemetery

 

The May 13 burial site contains 102 headstones, most of them for Chinese victims of the racial riots. There are also two Muslim graves.

PETALING JAYA: A group of societies is to seek talks with the Gombak land and district office over two Muslim graves at the May 13 burial site in Sungai Buloh, which was recently gazetted as a non-Muslim cemetery.

The group, which calls itself the People’s Reform Movement, questioned the Selangor government’s decision to gazette the site, saying it reflected a lack of public discourse and good governance.

The group also said they were concerned about the decision to appoint the Friends of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Heritage Association (Pesawa) to manage the site, given that there are Muslim graves there.

On Saturday, Pesawa secretary Law Jing had said it plans to meet with land officials to clarify the matter as the group’s application to manage the cemetery had not included any reference to religion.

The People’s Reform Movement also said today they would request a meeting with the Gombak officials to obtain clarification.

In a statement, the group said: “The actions of the Gombak land and district office and Selangor government do not reflect the implementation of mechanisms, processes, and public involvement that would allow affected communities to assert their rights clearly, legally, and importantly, to reduce the gap between authorities and the public.”

The group comprises Pertubuhan Pemerkasaan Identiti Malaysia, Gerakan Pengundi Sedar, and Concerned Lawyers for Justice.

On Nov 22, Selangor granted Pesawa the right to manage the burial site on the hill behind Sungai Buloh Hospital. It contains 102 headstones, the majority of which belong to Chinese victims of the racial riots.

The state government had gazetted the site as a non-Muslim cemetery on Sept 5. - FMT