Central Kalimantan Finally Has The First Crematorium, Located In Sampit

The first Crematorium in Central Kalimantan is located in Sampit visited by the Regent of North Komut and his Deputy and the Sampit Bakti Social Association, Friday, June 16, 2023. (ANTARA-Norjani)

KALTENG - Central Kalimantan Province (Central Kalimantan) finally has the first cremation center or crematorium. The location is located in the burial complex on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Sampit, East Kotawaringin Regency (Kotim).

"Today we inaugurate the crematorium building. I especially appreciate the Bakti Social Association for realizing this and of course it is a matter of pride because we are more advanced than other districts," said Kotim Regent Halikinnor, when inaugurating the crematorium, Friday, June 16, as reported by Antara.

Halikinnor said he was proud of the completion of the crematorium, because it saw not only its benefits, but also as evidence of the cohesiveness of religious communities in the local area.

The construction of the crematorium, which costs billions of rupiah, is a form of public concern for contributing to religious activities, especially residents of Chinese descent in this area.

"The tens of years of the Crematorium is being coveted, today can be realized," he said.

Halikinnor said the local government would renovate the road to the cemetery complex so that there would be no obstacles when people carry bodies or during pilgrimages.

"What makes me very proud, thank God, the tolerance and harmony between religious communities in our area is very high, so this is our great strength to prevent if there are issues that can divide religious harmony," said Halikinnor.

The chairman of the Bakti Sampit Social Association, Budiman, appreciated the presence of this crematorium. He said the cremation center for this corpse was modern because it was able to heat the temperature to reach 800 degrees Celsius, so it only took about three hours to turn it into ashes.

He said the machine, which was equipped with a filter at Sampit cremation, made the cremation process not cause smoke and smell.

"The engine for this cremation is made in Australia. After this cremation, the ashes can be brought home by the family. So far, if you want cremation, you have to go to Banjarmasin, now it's enough in Sampit," he said.

Budiman said this crematorium is intended for social activities so that service users are only asked to provide 150 liters of fuel oil for cremation purposes. However, if it comes from poor families, it will be free of charge.

"This development can be realized apart from the assistance from the Kotim Regency Government as well as the cooperation of Chinese citizens and the support of all parties in this area. This development began in April 2021 until now, and has only been realized during the current administration of the Regent of Halikinnor and Deputy Regent of Irawati," he concluded.