A former religious leader has proposed the use of "double-decker" burial plots to overcome the shortage of burial land in Selangor.

Abdul Kader Talib, the former mufti of Kuala Lumpur, said the radical approach would help ease land shortage for the dead, especially in cities.

"Islam says the dead must be buried. If there's land shortage, we have to maximise what we have. It is something like double-decker beds," he told AFP .

Abdul Kader said the practice was common in Egypt where he studied and lived for almost a decade. But he said Muslims must first be at ease with the idea.

"The idea can be implemented but the public must first accept it," he said.

The 74-year-old mufti aired his view in the wake of a debate over the shortage of land for burial of Muslims in parts of Selangor and the federal capital, who make up slightly more that 50 percent of Malaysia's 23 million people.

Interval period

Selangor state now wants developers in urban districts to set aside one hectare (2.5 acres) of land for cemeteries for every 200 hectares of housing construction.

Abdul Kader said the idea of burying two persons in the same plot was first discussed when he was mufti of Kuala Lumpur in the 1990s when there were complaints from the people over land shortage for burial.

The idea was dropped when the state made land available, he said, adding that the same problem has resurfaced.

The annual death rate in Selangor is 2.87 per 1,000 people, while the birth rate is 20.61 per 1,000 - contributing to the urgency to find new land for the dead.

Abdul Kader said if the authorities accept his idea, there should be an interval period of at least 18 months before another body was buried.

"I hope there will be a discussion among the public and religious scholars about this idea, he said.

Muslims in conservative Malaysia have cautiously welcomed the double-decker proposal.

Good idea

Anuar Abdul Razak, a former scholar with the Institute on Islamic Understanding Malaysia, said a religious decree would first have to be issued before the idea could be adopted.

"It is a good view. Shortage of land is real. I think it is possible to implement the idea. It is allowed in Islam but after some time to ensure we do not desecrate the grave," he said.

Shamzuri Ahmad Nazri, 25, a government employee, said: "It is kind of awkward for Muslims to perform their prayers for their loved ones with more than one body buried is the same place.

"I don't think it is a good idea. Graves are supposed to be filled with fond memories of our loved ones."

Julie Umi Watie, 24, said the idea was new but could be introduced to overcome land shortage in Selangor.

"Since there is a shortage of land, we need to find a solution to the problem. If people are comfortable with double-decker graves, why not," Mohamad Salleh Mohamad Noor, 49, was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail newspaper.