GEORGE TOWN: Eight non-governmental organisations today sent a joint memorandum to the Penang Islamic religious Council seeking the council to resolve problems pertaining to Muslim cemeteries in the state.

The NGOs are the Komtar Merchants Association (KMA), Penang branch Malaysian Ulama Association (PUMPP), Penang Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), the Penang Malays Association (PAJIM), Persatuan Kebajikan Insan Mulia (PKIM), Angkatan Pemuda Pemudi Islam (API), Islamic Propogation Society International (IPSI) and the Penang Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM).

KMA vice-chairman Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman said the problem of Muslim cemeteries was getting more acute in the state as the existing cemetery ground were small and could no longer accommodate the increase in population.

An example, he said, was the Muslim cemetery in Jelutong which could no longer accommodate new burial.

To overcome the problem, he said, the affected NGOs came up with a suggestion for MAIPP to purchase a parcel of land near the area to be turned into a new cemetery ground for Muslims in Jelutong.

"MAIPP should be responsible to expand the cemetery, not only in Jelutong, but also in other parts of Penang," he told reporters after handing over the memorandum to a MAIPP representative at the MAIPP office here today.

He said the affected NGOs plan to stage a demonstration if MAIPP and the state government could not resolve the problem in a week. -- BERNAMA