JOHOR BARU: A special complex for the Indian community to perform their final rites in Tanjung Langsat will now be relocated to Teluk Jawa, says state tourism, environment, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar.

       He said the Johor government was expediting the necessary approvals for the 0.66ha site, which will be ready in the next two months.

       “This place will be nearer to Johor Baru. The old location in Tanjung Langsat is now deemed unsuitable for security reasons, and as such, Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has directed for a new place to be identified as soon as possible,” he said after bringing a group of local leaders to tour the new site in Teluk Jawa.

       Raven Kumar dismissed suggestions that the move was a by-election ploy given the fact that the original RM1.3mil Tanjung Langsat complex was launched before the 15th General Election in November last year.

       The Pulai parliamentary district has about 166,653 voters, of whom 12.31% (20,508) are Indians, while in Simpang Jeram, which has about 40,014 voters, 2.53%, or 1,027, are Indians.

       Raven Kumar said that the Mentri Besar was serious about tackling issues faced by the community.

       “Onn has so far chaired at least two meetings with regard to this issue,” he said, adding that this time, the building would move straight into the construction phase.

       StarPicks

       Building and designing for a vibrant community

       Raven Kumar added that the new site could also be used for temporary final rites before the permanent building is completed.

       The Star had recently reported that 35 Indian-based NGOs and temple committees had urged the Johor government and the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) to expedite the completion of the complex in Tanjung Langsat.

       They claimed that for more than 20 years, the Indian community did not have a proper place to perform funeral rites and had been forced to hold them along Pantai Lido.

       The stalled complex was among the “hot issues” faced by the Indian community not just in Pulai but also in Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang, Tebrau and Iskandar Puteri.

       On campaigning for the by-elections, Raven Kumar, who is also the national MIC youth chief, said that the party was doing its best to reach out to voters in both Pulai and Simpang Jeram.

       “We are going to the ground to reach out to as many voters as possible via small gatherings instead of focusing on big ceramah,” he said.