Penang: Batu Lanchang burial plots 'to be affected' in road project

GEORGE TOWN (Dec 30): Up to 19 burial plots at a cemetery in the city “will be affected” by a bypass road project, reported Free Malaysia Today.

The news portal’s report based on a statement from the Penang Chief Minister’s Office revealed that 11 plots at the United Hokkien Cemeteries in Batu Lanchang Lane “would remain, but with a special access path to be built for family members”.

It also noted that the remains in eight graves of over a century old will be relocated.

“Our observations have found that there were burial plots without a clear description of who the deceased was on the headstones.

“Hence, the Penang government will put up a notice on the lookout for the next of kin, especially during the Cheng Beng period,” said the statement.

The statement added that United Hokkien Cemeteries did not manage to not contact the affected family members as it had no records of the burial plots involved.

Meanwhile, it was earlier reported that Penang Gerakan chief Oh Tong Keong recently said the Penang authorities “pledged not to touch any burial land” while constructing its projects.