GEORGE TOWN: The proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) alignment here will bypass the Sungai Nibong Besar mosque and adjacent Muslim cemetery.
This was the assurance given by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman.
He addressed the matter following a protest today by several non-governmental organisations.
They had gathered in Komtar after Friday prayers to express their views on the issue.
The protest was led by Mohd Sophian Mohd Zain of Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang, who claimed that the LRT alignment would encroach into the cemetery’s land.
Earlier plans had indicated that the LRT alignment would cross in front of the mosque and cemetery, or alternatively behind the mosque.
Zakiyuddin, however, said the alignment would not even affect “an inch” of the mosque and cemetery land.
“It has been agreed that the LRT alignment will not enter even a tiny bit of the cemetery or mosque, either on land or air space above it,” he said.
In fact, he said, the cemetery had encroached 2.5m outside wakaf land, but the LRT alignment would not encroach on that land either.
“The state Islamic religious council will take the appropriate action on the matter,” he added.
Zakiyuddin said the state Islamic Religious Council had agreed that the LRT would run parallel with the Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah flyover.
It was reported that the mosque was demolished last month to make way for a new one.
Zakiyuddin said the Public Works Department would continue with construction of the new mosque as planned.
“Piling works are expected to begin in August as planned,” he said.
The proposed 30km Bayan Lepas LRT line will have 27 stations, running from Komtar to three reclaimed islands planned south of the island.