The NEA introduced the Crypt Burial System (CBS) in 2007 – an improved version of the traditional soil burial system in Singapore, allowing for optimal land use. A CBS burial plot consists of a concrete crypt without a base. The deceased are buried in these crypts, which are laid out in grids to allow for more efficient land use, and make the plots more accessible to visitors.
The system is endorsed by various religious bodies in Singapore, as it accommodates the needs of various groups in the community. The system preserves the dignity of burial in Singapore, and prevents graves from shifting due to underground soil movement and erosion. It also provides a neater burial layout that lasts for years.
The New Burial Policy, introduced in 1998 to address the issue of land scarcity, limits burial to 15 years. After this period, graves will be exhumed and the remains cremated or re-interred, depending on one's religious requirements. Together with the CBS, this policy will optimise the use of cemetery land.
More information on CBS in Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.
We would like to thank the following organisations for their contributions and support for the CBS:
- Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
- Singapore Buddhist Federation
- Taoist Federation (Singapore)
- Taoist Mission (Singapore)
- Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore
- National Council of Churches of Singapore
- Hindu Endowments Board
- Jewish Welfare Board
- Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission
- The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Singapore
- Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore
- Association of Funeral Directors (Singapore)