No proper send-off for the dead

JOHOR BARU: S. Kalai Mani has been participating in Hindu funeral rites since he was eight, following his uncle as early as 3am to release the ashes of the deceased into the sea.

Fast forward 27 years, Kalai still conducts burial rituals haphazardly beside a road and even under a bridge, as there is no proper complex in the state for Hindus to carry out last rites

“Almost every state in the country has a complex equipped with changing rooms, toilets and other facilities to enable families to give the dead a proper send-off.Kalai: It is embarrassing that in Johor Baru, we are forced to do the last rites beside the road.

“It is embarrassing that in Johor Baru we are forced to do it beside the road near the beach areas in the city,” he said, adding that seven years ago, a car hit a vehicle belonging to a Hindu priest which was parked along the road.

Kalai said it is important to have a proper complex for Hindus to release the ashes on the third day and carry out the 16th day ritual following a death.

“We start the rituals at about 3am and finish about 5am. We need running water and usually the sea is the best place.

“Previously we were doing it along Pantai Lido but that place has been reclaimed for development.

“On the 16th day, we need to shave some of the close family members bald and imagine doing it by the roadside,” he said, adding that each month he was involved in at least 10 to 15 last rites in Johor Baru and Kulai.

Kalai was among the speakers at a special gathering attended by about 35 NGOs and temples urging the Johor government and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) to expedite the completion of a RM1.3mil complex in Tanjung Langsat.

The project was supposed to start following the ground-breaking ceremony by Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi last November.

Yesterday’s event was organised by the Marana Sahaya Nithi Johor welfare association, which helps with the funeral expenses of the poor since its formation in 2013.

Its committee member S. Kanthavel said the issue of conducting last rites for the community has been dragging on for over two decades.Kanthavel: The issue of conducting last rites has been dragging on for over two decades.

“Now we have the site for the complex but I still do not know why the MBPG is delaying the tender. We plan to carry out a protest in front of MBPG,” he said, adding that the complex would be able to serve Hindus in at least five parliamentary constituencies in Johor south, namely Pasir Gudang, Iskandar Puteri, Pulai, Tebrau and Johor Baru.

It is said that MBPG had during a recent meeting with Indian leaders proposed an alternative site in Kulai, but this was shot down by the leaders.

Johor MIC chairman R.Vidyananthan said MBPG mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman was told that the site for the complex was already approved by the state executive council and the ground-breaking ceremony had been done by the Johor Mentri Besar.

“We are firm in that MBPG should carry out the tender process to build the complex as soon as possible,” he said, urging the MB’s office to ensure that the project proceeds as planned.