MELAKA PLANS WIDER USE OF EXCAVATORS TO IMPROVE GRAVE-DIGGING EFFICIENCY

MELAKA, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The Melaka government will optimise the use of excavators in every state constituency to improve Muslim cemetery maintenance work, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said. 

He said the move aims to ensure that cemetery management, including digging graves, levelling the ground and improving burial areas, can be carried out more quickly, safely and systematically.

“I will propose a budget for this, and a detailed study will be conducted on preparing grave plots ahead of time, rather than only on the day of the burial, which often leads to difficulties, including finding grave diggers.

“With these excavators, graves can be dug at all cemeteries, and at the same time, 10 plots can be prepared in advance. So when someone dies, the grave only needs touch-ups,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after the Melaka state assembly sitting here today.

Ab Rauf added that this year’s budget also demonstrates the state government’s commitment to strengthening Islamic administration, with RM79.98 million allocated for operating expenditure and RM12.35 million for development expenditure for the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM).

“JAIM is among the departments receiving the largest allocation under the state administration, serving as a strategic pillar in the development of Islamic affairs.

“In addition to RM576,000 allocated for mosque grave diggers in Melaka, KAFA teachers and JAIM kindergarten teachers will also receive an allowance increase to RM1,700, and the MeSRa maternity leave allowance for female teachers will continue,” he said.

The Melaka Budget 2026, themed ‘Planned Development, For the People’, involves an estimated operating expenditure of RM528.8 million, while development expenditure is projected to reach RM93 million.

-- BERNAMA