The Bukit Gelugor MIC Division today expressed disappointment over the imposition of a charge by the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) on those wanting to clean the gravesites of their dead kin at the Batu Lanchang Hindu Cemetery in George Town.

Its chairperson, K Loganathan, said that as an entity that held the trust of Indians in the state, it was improper for the board to use the cemetery as a business tool with the approach of Deepavali.

“The PHEB move under the Pakatan leadership has imposed a burden on the Indian community in the state,” he told Bernama .

He said the MIC had received many complaints on the imposition of the payment of RM30 for cleaning each gravesite, RM10 for use of a hoe and RM30 for a wheelbarrow of earth.

“RM70 is charged for the cleaning of a gravesite and the relatives are not allowed to bring their own hoes and earth. Someone who has to clean four gravesites would have to fork out RM280,” he said.

Loganathan said the PHEB move had caused the less able to forgo cleaning the gravesites of their dead kin or parents with the approach of Deepavali.

He asked PHEB to hand over the gravesite cleaning to the party, saying that it was its annual ‘ gotong royong ’ (community teamwork) activity.

- Bernama