MIRI: The Dayak burial ground at Lambir is expected to be ready by June this year.

It is estimated that RM70,000 is needed to develop and build it.

President of Dayak Association Miri (DAM), Ellison Ludan, gave assurance when responding to the allegation that Dayaks in Miri, especially those without any religious affiliation have difficulties in finding a burial place for their dead relatives as reported last Sunday.

“By June this year, the burial ground will be ready to be used. The association needs time for the development due to insufficient fund,” said Ellison when contacted by the Borneo Post yesterday.

According to him, DAM could not spend more than RM5,000 on any project as any amount exceeding that would require the approval of an Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM).

Thus far, he said, DAM had made some progress on the cemetery including building a proper drainage irrigation system along the 5.35acres piece of land.

“Apart from the drainage irrigation system, we have also done grass cutting in the area.

Before constructing anything, we also need to clear the tree stumps in the area and flatten the area.”

DAM had also requested Public Works Department (JKR) to build a proper tar-sealed road for convenient access to the area.

In order for the area to be really ready for burial of dead bodies, concrete plots will  have to be constructed.

Ellison also mentioned that DAM was planning to sub-divide the burial ground into two parts. One that would be for the lower income group and the other half for the higher income group.

“The plots for the lower income group would be without concrete to make it affordable for them. Ellison did not however, disclose the cost of each burial plot.

The State government through the Land and Survey Department had allocated the land in May 2008 to DAM for burial purposes.

There has been a public outcry from the Dayak community here over the delay in the opening of the new burial ground, where the latest incident, the body of an old Iban woman who passed away was kept in the house for five days due to unavailability of a burial site.

She was finally buried at the overflowing ‘international’ burial ground at Riam cemetery on top of two other coffins.

Source: Borneo Post, 27 April 2010.

The signage for the Dayak cemetery was erected last Saturday witness by Martin Entamin (photo), the Chairman for the Dayak Cemetery Management.

To fund the development and maintenance of this cemetery, the association is organising a Charity Dinner on the evening of 4th December 2009 at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club in Miri. Tickets are still available at our office. Kindly call 085-435467 for details.