Death Is Expensive

 

Even in death, Malaysians are not spared the rising cost of living, as funeral services and ceremonies have become more expensive in recent years, compounded by the goods and services tax (GST). Checks at various funeral parlours showed that a non-Muslim’s last journey could cost nothing less than RM4,800. Previously, burial services cost between RM4,200 and RM4,500. Today, prices start from RM4,800.

Ernest, who has been running the business with his partner Lianna for the past three years, said his company's funeral packages start at RM4,800 and only applied to Christian and Buddhist funerals. For the Taoists, it is more expensive because there are a lot of customs and priests involved and a lot of prayers and materials are required for the funeral service. At RM4,800 there is no way I can get it done. The Taoist funeral services start at RM8,500.

Cremation costs varied according to location. The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council charges RM180. In Cheras, it is RM100 only. In Sentul it is RM400 if firewood is used. In Loke Yew, it is RM600 for a firewood cremation. However, in Shah Alam it can cost up to RM750.

Al-Ikhlasiah Pantai Dalam mosque undertaker, Hamdan Mohd Yusof said for Muslims, the cost for cleaning the remains, Islamic prayers and the shroud as well as burial came up to RM950. The motorcycle workshop owner, 47, said he has been offering undertaker services on a volunteer basis for the past 15 years. Giving a breakdown of the cost of a Muslim burial, Hamdan said it cost RM350 to dig a grave, while the cost of cleaning and shrouding the remains was RM150.

The cost of the hearse is set at RM1 per kilometre, he added, saying that if someone wanted to transport a person’s remains from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur, the round trip for the hearse could cost as much as RM100. But that price, he added, was subject to current transportation costs and highway tolls. Hamdan said all the payments were channelled to the mosque's burial fund, without any profits taken for himself or anyone from the mosque.