Affected residents in Kuala Ketil have unanimously decided against the relocation the Batu Pekaka Hindu cemetery until the state government negotiates an amicable solution to the impasse.

And, they want the settlement to be put in writing.

kedah kuala ketil cemetery protest 121209 banner They agreed to this after listening to Kuala Ketil Tamilaar Association president V Raj Maniyan, 60, for half an hour during a protest gathering near the 0.8 acre Batu Pekaka burial ground this morning.

The Kedah PAS-led government wants to relocate the entombment lots from the 100-year-old Hindu graveyard to an existing nine-acre site at Padang Geh, about 5km away.

penang kedah timber logging azizan abdul razak 310708 01 The government wants to flatten the former Batu Pekaka estate burial ground for the RM320 million Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) project to be undertaken by government-linked company Bina Darulaman Bhd.

Raj Maniyan said the residents have agreed that the association will hold talks with Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak ( left ) to find an amicable solution to the controversy.

"We are not against the development of a higher learning institute.

"Our priority is to retain and maintain the burial ground not only in respect of the lost souls but also for its historical value.

"However, if we have to allow the relocation for development, then we want the state government to conduct proper talks and put everything agreed upon in writing, unlike now," he said.

No trust in verbal pledges

Raj Maniyan claimed that currently the state government had only given verbal promises on how it plans to settle the issue.

One of the demands that the residents would put forward is an alternate site for the Batu Pekaka cemetery.

NONE Raj Maniyan said the residents have rejected the idea of merging the cemetery with another existing one.

"This is a separate cemetery. Why should it be merged into another? We should get an alternative site," he said.

Earlier from 9am, a large group of residents started gathering at the cemetery on hearing the news that the developer was going to remove half of the 80 burial lots to Padang Geh.

State executive councillor S Manikumar, who handles the state exco portfolios of tourism, Indian and Siamese affairs, claimed that the developer had apparently been permitted by certain lot owners to relocate the remains of their family members to Padang Geh.

Tussling over who talk with

However, the majority of the crowd was against the idea as they gathered at the graveyard, located in former Batu Pekaka estate, to protest the move.

The protesters became louder when Bukit Selambau assemblyperson Manikumar arrived at the scene at about 10am.

kedah kuala ketil cemetery protest 121209 s manikumar Manikumar ( left ), who came with a group of youths, was greeted with chants of ‘traitor', ‘liar' and ‘cheat.'

An unhappy Manikumar has said the state government had agreed to compensate RM3,000 for each of the graveyard's 80 plot owners and has agreed to undertake all costs to relocate the entombed remains as well.

He claimed that at least 42 grave owners had given written consent to allow the developer to relocate the entombment remains.

However, others like M Letchumi, V Mogana, P Muniammah and M Sina Kolandai said they had given only verbal permission.

"We have not signed anything in black and white," they said.

kedah kuala ketil cemetery protest 121209 crowd Manikumar also said the state government cannot possibly hold talks with the unregistered Kuala Ketil Tamilaar Association.

He added that the authorities would be willing to negotiate the issue only with the committee of the Hindu temple Sri Mahamariamman Kovil, which has official recognition.

"As a responsible state government, we cannot negotiate with an unregistered body," he said.

Manikumar claimed that the temple committee was the legitimate graveyard operator, which was however denied by its chairperson K Elangovan, who was at the scene.

Written consent given

Elangovan said some 160 Kuala Ketil residents, including the committee members, have already given written consent to the association to deal with the problem.

He produced a document to the press on the written consent.

"Why should the state government drag in the temple committee? "We are not involved in the graveyard operations. It's handled by the association," he said firmly.

kedah kuala ketil cemetery protest 121209 hindu burial ground When contacted, HRP pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar said the residents have exercised their right by stopping the developer and other residents from damaging the burial ground.

He said under Section 297 of Penal Code, one can be punished with a year in jail for causing damage to burial grounds.

Raj Maniyan said he would a lead delegate soon to discuss the issue with Menteri Besar Azizan at Wisma Darulaman for a final resolution.

The cemetery came under the Kedah Development Corporation (PKNK) when the previous BN state government acquired part of the Batu Pekaka estate land to develop an industrial park about seven years ago.