Kuala lumpur: Malay reserve land implicated in the Semenyih Bypass Project, which includes the construction of Islamic public burial plots in Hulu Langat, Selangor, is set to be replaced, as assured by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has also pledged his commitment to this.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that he will not compromise on the status of Malay Reserve Land. He acknowledged that if Malay land is required for road development, it will be replaced. This assurance was reiterated by Menteri Besar Amirudin during the launch of the Semenyih Public Infrastructure Development project.

The Prime Minister elaborated on the construction of the 4.3-kilometer Semenyih Bypass, which will connect Jalan Sungai Lalang and the Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK Highway). The project, set to be executed through privatization, also includes the construction of a new Islamic burial ground, which will be managed by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council.

The new burial site is planned to have about 100,000 plots to cater to long-term demand. The existing burial space at Raudhatul Sakinah Islamic Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur is only projected to meet demand for another four years. Anwar highlighted the urgent need for this project, given the projection that deaths in the next five years will exceed 3,000 annually.

The development cost of the project is considerable due to multiple challenges, including land acquisition and the replacement of the burial ground. However, Anwar stated that these are necessary expenditures for the benefit of local residents.

The Semenyih Bypass project represents a strategic collaboration between KHK Land and the Federal Government. It will feature a four-lane route connecting Semenyih to the SILK Highway and six major expressways, including the Kajang-Seremban Highway (LEKAS) and the Cheras-Kajang Expressway (CKE). This initiative is anticipated to ease traffic congestion and significantly reduce travel time to Kuala Lumpur from 45 minutes to just 20 minutes.