Three days later, questions are still abound over the controversial exhumation work of the Muslim cemetery in Jalan Keretapi in Kuching.

"It is a serious mistake for the State Planning Authority (SPA) to approve the proposal, and very wrong on the part of the Sarawak Mosque Charitable Board to propose a development project involving an old cemetery," a social activist, Sulaiman Kadir told Malaysiakini.

Sulaiman, a former senior officer of Land and Survey Department confirmed that the project had been approved by the SPA, Sarawak’s highest decision making body for development which is under the direct purview of the chief minister in his capacity as minister of planning and resource management.

"The process is like this. The Mosque Charitable Board submits a proposal to SPA, upon approval SPA informs the board and the Land & Survey Department.

“The board must work closely with Land and Survey to carry out the job. However, the board failed to comply with Land and Survey requirements when carrying out the job without informing relatives of the deceased," Sulaiman explained.

He added that the board had acted within its legal rights because graveyards fall under its jurisdiction and the SPA has endorsed the decision.

"However it is very wrong morally for the board to develop the cemetery and SPA to approve it because Sarawak is never short of land for commercial development," he said, adding that the board was acting at the behest of some vested group or powerful family.

High project cost

Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR deputy chief Baharuddin Mokhsen demanded an explanation from state Assistant Minister of Islamic Affairs, Daud Abdul Rahman, over alleged impropriety in the tomb excavation works.

"For merely 400 or more tombs, I was given to understand that the exhumation work project costs over RM500,000 which means that each tomb costs RM13,000," he explained.

Baharuddin also queried why top brass in the board kept mum over the matter, if they had a strong case for exhumation.

"We will support them with teeth and claws if there were pressing reasons like security or safety and help to explain to the rakyat why the graveyard had to be relocated.

“But until now, we have not heard any good reasons, only rumours linking them to a high-end condominium and private hospital belonging to a well-connected family.

"Daud was very quick to deny that the exhumation work was carried out to give way to commercial projects. If not, show us the documents and explain to us why it is being carried out in a secretive manner," Baharuddin added.