Bagan: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an additional RM1 million allocation to the Penang State Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) for the construction of a modern Hindu crematorium in Bagan, as announced by PHEB chairman RSN Rayer.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the additional allocation brings the total funding for the project to RM2.5 million, up from the RM1.5 million initially approved by Anwar. The original RM1.5 million was deemed insufficient to implement the project, which is particularly needed by the Hindu community in Seberang Perai. This facility will be Penang's second modern electric crematorium, following the one in Batu Lanchang.

"This additional approval reflects the concern and commitment of the MADANI Government and the Prime Minister in ensuring that the needs of Malaysia's multiracial and multireligious communities are given fair attention," Rayer stated at a press conference at the project site on Jalan Siram. Present at the event were Bagan Member of Parliament Lim Guan Eng and Bagan Dalam state assemblyman Kumaran Krishnan.

Kumaran emphasized the importance of the crematorium in providing an organized, suitable, and comfortable facility for the Hindu community to perform final rites according to their customs and religious beliefs. He noted that the facility would reduce the community's reliance on more distant crematoriums.

"This is a long-term facility for the benefit of the Hindu community, particularly in Seberang Perai and the surrounding areas," he added. Kumaran highlighted that the additional allocation resulted from a joint application and efforts by Lim and Rayer, who had written to Anwar to secure the necessary funding for a comprehensive project implementation.

The tender process for constructing the approximately 4,000-square-foot crematorium has been initiated, with the project expected to be completed by mid-next year.