SHAH ALAM, May 3 — The majority of family members and next of kin involved in moving 90 graves located at the Klang Strait Muslim cemetery have agreed with the decision to exhume and relocate the graves, said Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari.
Currently, the state government via the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the local authorities are obtaining an agreement with the remaining next of kin to allow the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in the area to continue as planned.
"We will continue discussions with the parties involved because the majority have agreed.
“For the next of kin who have not agreed, we will give another week to discuss with Jais, the local authorities, and ECRL," he said during a press conference at the State Secretariat Building today.
Amirudin was commenting on press reports of some next of kin and family members who remained opposed to digging and moving the graves, after a meeting with Jais on Wednesday (May 1).
On Tuesday (April 30), the Menteri Besar said the digging and moving of the graves, which was scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed for another week to carry out the notification and hearing for the other 45 next of kin of the graves, among other things.
Meanwhile, he said the state government is aiming for 30,000 visitors from home and abroad for the Turath Islami Festival, which will be held at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah from May 26 to June 2.
The festival, now in its second year, aims to revive and spread Selangor's Islamic heritage and will be attended by two prominent scholars: the former grand mufti of Egypt Maulana Al-Imam Ali Jum'ah and Yemeni scholar Habib Umar Hafiz.
"With the presence of the two prominent scholars of the world as well as 23 great scholars from regional countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, we are confident the number of visitors will triple compared to around 10,000 last year.
"The organisation of this second festival is a sign of the commitment of the state government to spread and revive Islamic heritage," Amirudin said.
Turath Islami will include 12 main events, including the study of the Forty Hadith book written by Imam Nawawi, which will be led by Al-Imam Ali Jum'ah, and an international seminar on the book Riyadhu al-Solihin.
Those interested in participating in the festival can register starting today at www.turathislamiselangor.com.
— Bernama
