Port Klang rep confident columbarium near mosque won't be built
Villagers protesting against the proposed columbarium project next to a mosque in Klang. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Port Klang assemblyman Azmizam Zaman Huri has expressed confidence that the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) will reject a proposal to build a four-storey columbarium near the Kampung Raja Uda mosque in Klang.
He said the developer had failed to present or justify the suitability of the project in a Malay-majority area, Bernama reported.
Azmizam said the proposal was clearly unsuitable as the land zoning under the MBDK local plan up to 2035 specifies the proposed project site is meant to be 'a limited commercial area'.
Today, he was present at a public hearing on the project attended by the residents, the developer and the town planning department.
It was chaired by MBDK deputy mayor Zary Affendi Arif at the council's building in Klang.
Azmizam, who led the residents in protesting against the proposal, said that under current laws, only 28 types of limited commercial activities were allowed in the area – none of which include the construction of a memorial or columbarium.
He urged MBDK to give an assurance that no construction would be allowed at the proposed site unless official approval is obtained, in line with Section 19 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172).
Kampung Raja Uda mosque nazir (administrator) Ismail Arsat voiced concern that the village's status as part of the royal city could be tarnished by the project.
He said the iconic landmark and main attraction of the village, the Raja Uda mosque, could be marred if the columbarium is built just 83 metres from the mosque.
MBDK said it would consider objections and proposals from both sides before referring the matter to the one-stop centre committee meeting on June 24 for an assessment.
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