Abin (left) checking on a family carrying out repair work on their relative’s tomb at the Dayak cemetery yesterday.
MIRI: A check following the desecration of more than 15 graves at the Dayak, Roman Catholic and Anglican cemetery in Riam here on Sunday has led to the discovery of a few suspected illegal burials.
Dayak Memorial Park chairman Abin Galieh, who visited the Dayak cemetery yesterday after receiving complaints that several tombs had been desecrated, said he found out that a few of the tombs there were new – with the latest burial in 2018.
He said this was despite the cemetery being closed since 2010.
“We closed this cemetery on June 10, 2010 and had since moved to the new burial ground in Lambir. Hence, there should not be any new tombs here,” he said when met at the cemetery.
Abin believes that more than 10 illegal burials had taken place at the Dayak cemetery.
“There is no law or rule in our constitution on this (encroaching cemetery and carrying out illegal burial). I will bring this matter up in the next meeting with the committee,” he said.
He added that he would discuss the matter with their legal advisor.
“I believe some people buried their family members here without our knowledge because they do not want to pay for the burial ground in Lambir. In Lambir, members of the Dayak Association of Miri (DAM) or families of DAM members have to pay RM1,000 for adult burial plot while it is RM600 for children.
“As for non-members, they have to pay RM2,000 (adult) and RM1,000 (children),” said Abin.
On the desecration of tombs at the Dayak cemetery, Abin said he was saddened and angered that such thing happened yet again.
It was not the first time that cemeteries in Riam were desecrated by thieves who looked for valuables.
According to Abin, in the old days especially in the Dayak custom, the family would bury together with the deceased all his belongings including valuables such as gold which he collected or wore when he was alive.
“This attracts thieves to desecrate their tombs in search for valuables. However, today, not many families want to bury valuables with the loved ones for fear of thieves desecrating their tombs,” he said.
Abin thus urged the police to patrol the cemetery not just in Riam but also in Lambir more often to prevent such thing from recurring.
He also called on those who have family members or relatives buried at the Riam cemetery to visit their graves to check if they are in good condition.
“If they have been desecrated and destroyed, please repair them,” he said.
Abin also checked on a family carrying out repair work on their relative’s tomb which was desecrated recently.