Perda has been urged to be more understanding of the custom and feelings of descendants when cemeteries and places of burial are concerned.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong, said there should be discussions with the descendants to reduce the impact and consequences when development is taking place near the cemeteries.

“If Perda needs to put up fencing or rods to demarcate the land belonging to it, there should be discussions with the descendants to avoid any misunderstanding,” said Oh in a statement.

Oh said the descendants concerned would welcome any form of goodwill so that both sides could resolve any problem amicably.

On Sunday, a group of residents in Batu Ferringhi made a protest after steel fencing rods sprouted at their century-old Chinese cemetery at the Tang Sang See Temple.

Temple secretary Tan ah Boon said the residents only became aware that Perda had put up the rods to demarcate the land belonging to it last week.

Perda chairman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said some of the burial plots had encroached into its 2.7ha land. Azhar said it had sent a notice to Persatuan Kwang Long but since there was no reply, it went ahead and put up the rods.

Oh suggested that Perda publishes in the newspapers its intention to start work near the cemeteries and invite the descendants for a discussion.