Broad plan needed for historical burial sites
By Opalyn MokThe Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) wants the authorities to devise a comprehensive plan to preserve historical burial sites and memorials in Penang, and to prevent the exhumation of ancient graves belonging to historical figures.
"Cemeteries are a part of our heritage and culture, so it is something that should not be neglected and forgotten," said PHT secretary Clement Liang.
Referring to the recent exhumation of tombs from a private plot within the Batu Lanchang Hokkien cemetery, Liang said the tombs and memorials are vital, as they serve as a physical link to the past.
He said all burial sites, tombs, memorial monuments and cenotaphs that are over 50 years old have significant historic value and should automatically come under the state's legal protection.
"There should be a record and listing of all historical sites, monuments and tombs in the state," he added.
Speaking at a press conference at the PHT today, Liang said tombs with historical value, if maintained properly, could also become an interesting attraction for tourists interested in learning about historical figures of the state.
"The tombs (in Batu Lanchang) that were exhumed were those belonging to descendents of Penang's first Kapitan Cina Koh Lay Huan, including the grave of his famous philanthropist grandson Koh Seang Tatt, who died in 1899," he said.
The grave of Seang Tatt's brother Seang Teik, which has a road in Penang named after him, was also exhumed, he added.
The seventh-generation descendants of the Koh family, who had exhumed the graves to make way for a residential development project, said the relocation of the graves was done after consultation with mediums and appropriate prayers had been conducted.
Koh Chong Poh, who is also a great-great grandson of Seang Teik, said Lay Huan and his wife's tomb would not be disturbed.
The family plans to convert the tomb and its surroundings into a 6.1ha memorial park which includes a green lung for future use.
Liang said the Koh family should have maintained the graves due to their historical value.
"Now that they have exhumed the graves, they should at least keep the tombstones, and use it at the memorial park," he said, adding the stones that are over a century old have historical value.
Liang called on the council to protect and upkeep historical memorials, graves and structures.
On Monday, heritage activists cried foul over the exhumation of the Koh family graves. The family had applied to remove 33 graves from the site but the council had only approved 23 exhumations.
However, heritage activists and PHT are claiming that more than 70 graves had been exhumed.
The council had issued planning permission in 2009 for a residential project consisting of six bungalows, 48 semi-detached houses and 44 terrace houses on 4.7ha at the site.
Meanwhile, State Executive Councillor and Penang DAP Chairman Chow Kon Yeow convened two separate meetings with the Koh family and the PHT to discuss news reports over the exhumation of historical graves at Batu Lanchang.
"After listening to the views of the landowners, MPPP and George Town World Heritage Incorporated officers and PHT representatives, it was decided that a roundtable meeting be called to discuss the preservation of Koh Lay Huan’s grave and to determine the historical value of other graves of the Koh descendants," he said in a late afternoon statement.
