Jawi begins using multi-tier graves for unclaimed bodies in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) began implementing a multi-tier burial method for bodies with no next of kin at the Raudhatul Sakinah Muslim Cemetery in Kepong on Tuesday.

Jawi said in a statement that the pilot project was part of efforts to optimise the use of increasingly limited space at Muslim cemeteries in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Sinar Harian reported.

The project also uses a body-lowering pulley machine developed by the Kuala Lumpur Public Works Department to facilitate the handling and lowering of bodies to a depth of eight feet.

“In this method, the first body is lowered using a sling stretcher with the help of a pulley machine, while two or three workers stand inside the grave to receive the body.

“After the first body is placed, the soil-collapse support device is lifted before the grave chamber is covered with boards. The pulley machine is then moved away and the grave is filled with soil to a level five feet below the grave’s surface.

“A second grave chamber, two feet deep, is then dug on the left side facing the direction of the qibla, before the second body is lowered using the pulley machine, covered with grave boards and filled with soil until it reaches the original ground level,” it said.

Media reports previously said Muslim cemeteries in Kuala Lumpur were expected to have capacity for burials only until 2029 based on existing space.

In November 2025, Jawi and Universiti Sains Malaysia were reported to have conducted a study to develop guidelines for implementing multi-tier graves in the Federal Territories as an alternative to address the shortage of burial space.

Jawi said the use of the pulley machine could improve the efficiency of burial procedures while making the work easier for those involved.

Efforts to improve the operation of Muslim cemeteries also include exploring suitable technologies and equipment to ensure bodies are managed responsibly, properly and in accordance with Islamic requirements, it added.