The government will continue building a cemetery along the Damansara-Sprint highway despite objection from residents as the 'needs of the dead must also be respected', said Federal Territory Minister Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

The controversial project bordering the Desa Kiara Condominium was raised in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday after residential protests went unheeded for nine months.

Raising his opposition to the project during his adjournment speech, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai noted that the government failed to consult residents before turning the green lung bordering the condominium into a cemetery.

Tan said "no civilised government should compromise the welfare of its people" by siting a cemetery on land which is adjacent to homes and inappropriate for such use.

Responding, Mohd Isa said the government took into consideration the appeals of residents.

However, he added that the government "cannot only consider the needs of the living but must also consider the needs those who are dying".

Planting trees

The minister said the project remains slated for completion by this August but measures will be taken to 're-build' a green lung by planting more trees in the cemetery.

He added the Kuala Lumpur City Hall cemetery project is expected to house at least 10,000 graves when completed and is currently about 75 percent done.

Since last November, Desa Kiara residents have cried foul over the RM6.7 million cemetery - separated from their homes by the narrow Sungai Penchala - principally on health grounds but also because the government approved it without their knowledge.

In a detailed report, residents claimed that without any green buffers, river pollution and ground water contamination resulting from the decomposition could possibly bring about substantial health risks, given that numerous communities that come in contact with the Penchala downstream.

They also complained of loss in the value of their homes, especially since certain banks have refused to finance new sale and purchase agreements.

However, attempts to obtain political redress have been frustrated, as leaders ranging from then minister in the Prime Minister's Department Adnan Mansor, Segambut MP Tan Kee Kwong and Mohd Isa himself, had failed to explain why proper consultation procedures were not followed.

Residents claimed that Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mohmad Shaid Mohd Taufek informed them that unless the prime minister intervenes, the project will continue as planned, with or without community support.

To date, there has been no official response from the prime minister's office.

Tan chided that since government channels are now closed off to the community and leaders have learnt to ignore their protests, it has become the responsibility of MPs such as himself to raise the issue in the Dewan Rakyat.

"The entire project approval process conflicts with all the policies of Local Agenda 21. Furthermore, I have found that the land have not been re-designated from a green lung to a graveyard," he said, adding that there are further adverse environmental consequences from the green lung removal.

"I understand the need to open up new cemeteries, but we need to have an alternative site that is a little further away," said the DAP leader.