Norman
Funeral Services charges between RM3,000 and RM20,000 for funeral
services, depending on the type of casket purchased, which ranges from
affordable locally-produced medium-density fibre coffins to solid wood
caskets imported from Italy or the US.
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
Assalamualaikum semua. Moga-moga kita semua di bawah lindungan rahmatNya. Selawat dan salam buat junjungan besar kita Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. Dah lama benar rasanya tak menulis dalam blog ini. Bukan merajuk atau marah. Bukan juga kerana bosan. Bukan,bukan, bukan. Bukan seperti semua di atas. Cuma bila tak ada bahan ilmiah yang hendak ditulis, biasanya saya berdiam diri seketika. Manalah tahu, ada kengkawan yang mencadangkan bahan baharu untuk dikaji. Maklumlah internet ini umpama lautan luas. Terlalu banyak untuk diterokai. Tak termampu diri untuk menyelam lama-lama. Perlukan oksigen dan kapal lebih besar untuk berada lama di 'lautan' ini. Tambahan pula bahan -bahan arkib untuk Telok Panglima Garang agak terhad.
Pernah saya menjadi pelawat di Arkib Negara di Jalan Duta 4,5 tahun lepas dengan niat nak kaji semua pasal TPG. Tak terdaya teman. Bajet ciput untuk fotostat bahan, apatah lagi nak ambil gambar bahan. TIDAK DIBENARKAN SAMA SEKALI. Terpaksalah akur kepada arahan dan kemampuan diri. Akhirnya, cukuplah setakat kajian di merata-rata dunia siber ini. Murah dan ringkas, cuma tak khusus untuk TPG. Reda dan redah jer lah.
Entri kali ini aku nak bawa kalian ke kubur. Ya, KUBUR. Yalah, kubur tempat tanam orang yang dah mati! Mesti korang kata buang tabiat apa mamat ni nak cerita pasal kubur pulak hari ini? Entahlah,tak tahu nak kata apa sebab. Tapi aku terpanggil nak buka cerita pasal sejarah tapak perkuburan lama di Telok Panglima Garang. Yang korang tahu kubur Telok ada kat Jalan Pusara menghala ke Kg. Bom kan? Itu tapak ketiga, bhai! Aku tak tahulah bila Kubur Alur Pak Datu (nama lama Jalan Pusara) tu mula dikebumikan termasuklah kubur-kubur keluarga, ibu dan bapa aku. Tapi yang aku tahu dan pasti ada tapak lama perkuburan Orang Islam di TPG sebelum tu. Aku dah buat kajian tapak dan kalau korang nak konfirmkan, tanyalah orang-orang tua Telok yang masih ada. Itupun kalau dia orang masih ingat ler. So guys...rileks, teruskan membaca. Cikgu nak mulakan kelas Sejarah ...HAHAHAHA
Korang pasti dah tahu Telok ini dah wujud sejak zaman Sultan Abdul Samad dulu lagi kan? Sebelum ini TPG dikenali Nibong Dengkil dan terletak di telok sungai di mana didiami oleh kaum orang asli.
Disebabkan kedudukannya yang strategik, ramai pedagang-pedagang Aceh datang dan mula membuat penempatan di hilir sungai sehingga kawasan tersebut dipanggil Beting Pak Aceh. Kisah terperincinya di sini http://akubudaktelok64.blogspot.my/2011/05/sejarah-kampungku.html
Kemudian ada versi baharu nama TPG ini sempena nama Panglima Raja Berayun, pelindung Sultan Abdul Samad ketika menjadi pelarian di Hulu Langat
Baca kisahnya di sini. http://akubudaktelok64.blogspot.my/2014/05/asal-usul-tpg-2-siapa-sebenarnya.html
Tak kisahlah mana satu versi yang betul. Yang penting faktanya TPG telah lama wujud! Penduduknya pernah hidup dan mati di sini! Jadi sudah pasti ada kuburnya! Kalau korang tanyakan aku pasal kubur Sakai-sakai terdahulu, memang aku tak dapat jawab..pasal memang tak ada di sini. Lagipun Kubur orang asli tak sama dengan kubur Melayu beragama Islam.Kalau tak salah aku orang asli tak kebumikan mayat-mayat. Diorang sangkutkan jer atas pokok-pokok sebelum berpindah ke tempat lain...Nomad. Kalau korang tanya kubur Keling Hindu, aku rasa mayat diorang dibawa ke Sungai Sedu untuk dibakar. Kalau korang tanya pasal jirat Cina, aku rasa kubur diorang ada kat Jugra atau Simpang Lima, Klang. Pasal kat Telok memang tak ada rezab perkuburan Cina, Hindu atau Kristian sejak dahulu lagi, walaupun ada tanah rezab jirat Cina diwartakan, setahu akulah.
So, back to square One. Mana dia tapak perkuburan Islam yang lama? Jeng-jeng-jeng...
Kita kena tengok balik di manakah petempatan orang Melayu dahulu di Telok? Aku kena sekolahkan korang dengan bahan bersejarah supaya korang faham. Sejak dahulu lagi (Zaman Sultan Abdul Samad) sehinggalah Jalan Jugra-Klang dibina (disiapkan pada 1898), dan lama selepas itu, orang Melayu masih membina rumah-rumah mereka di atas tebing sungai. Bukan kat Telok jer, Klang, Singapura dan tempat-tempat lain pun sama. Tujuannya simple untuk difahami.. Mudah nak bergerak,mandi, minum, berak, cari ikan, cari lauk dan selamat daripada binatang buas. Maklumlah hutan masa itu tebal lagi. Segala binatang buas ada kat Hutan Telok, termasuk harimau. Kalau korang nak tahu lanjut bacalah ini
Oleh sebab itu, mereka akan menguburkan mayat saudara mara mereka di daratan berhampiran sungai tempat mereka bina rumah atas air itu.. Cuba korang tengok peta top0grafi Telok Panglima Garang di bawah ini.. Peta ini dikeluarkan pada tahun 1933. Masih terdapat lagi rumah-rumah atas air ini walaupun ramai yang telah membina rumah di sepanjang jalan raya Klang -Banting ini. Mana rumahnya? Yang petak-petak empat segi warna hitam itu rumah ler! Adoyai, rabun Geografi rupanya korang!
Aku kecilkan ruang untuk korang fokuskan perhatian. Lihat kotak persegi merah tuu. Itulah kawasan yang aku maksudkan. Rumah-rumah atas tebing. Kalau tahun 1933 masih ada lagi, maknanya perkampungan atas air memang wujud di Telok sebelum itu. Dan yang menariknya tapak perkuburan awal Telok ini terletak betul-betul atas tanah milik keluarga aku! Sejak moyang lelaki aku membeli tanah pusaka kami ini, memang dah ada kubur. Bukan satu, bukan dua, bahkan hampir seratus kubur ada di situ. Malah, arwah moyang aku juga disemadikan di tanah perkuburan itu. Tanah itu bukan tanah wakaf kerana kami masih memiliki gerannya yang sah sehingga kini..Yang peliknya kuburan lama di situ ditanami pokok-pokok durian dan manggis. Sememangnya arwah datukku yang menanamnya bersama-sama dahulu. Dusun durian itulah sebagai sumber pendapatan tambahan kami ketika musimnya. Bahkan durian-durian di kebun kami..ehem.. kuburan ini lebih enak dan lebih digemari berbanding pokok durian di kawasan lain dalam kebun kami yang seluas enam ekar itu. Mungkin perkuburan ini telah wujud sebelum 1898 ketika jalan Jugra-Klang dibina kerana aku pernah terbaca tulisan di salah satu batu nesannya yang tertulis dalam tulisan jawi, tahun 1905. Moyangku meninggal dunia sekitar tahun 1928-29. Ini bererti tapak perkuburan lain di Telok belum wujud masa itu. Wallahu alam.
Jadi, timbul persoalan baharu, bila masa dan di manakah tapak perkuburan kemudian diwartakan? Susahlah nak cakap kalau tak ada bukti atau bahan bertulis tentang itu. Tetapi pemerhatian aku masa kecil-kecil dahulu, terdapat lima buah kubur lama di sebelah kanan mimbar Masid Telok. Aku sendiri tak tahu milik siapa kubur itu? Tapi takkanlah 5 kubur sahaja, mesti ini pun kubur-kubur lama kepunyaan orang-orang berpengaruh di Telok. Boleh jadi kubur Tok Penghulu atau Tuan Imam atau sesiapa sahaja yang ada ikatan dengan institusi masjid Telok. Aku kurang pasti. Korang kena buat penyelidikan sendiri atau suruh budak-budak sekolah tanyakan pada SU Masjid. Mungin dia ada jawapan yang korang cari. Mungkin juga orang-orang dahulu di Telok kebumikan saudara mara mereka di atas tanah milik persendirian keluarga mereka sendiri. Sekali lagi Wallahu alam.bissawab. Ini soalan susah ana mau jawab. Nasib BAiK Ada maklumat terbaharu daripada kawan sekampung aku, Hamzah Radzi, anak aruah cikgu Radhi.
Ada beberapa tapak lama perkuburan asal orang telok lama sebelum tapak sekarang ni! Yg banyak kubur:
1. Belakang rumah keluarga syed/pok long lias
2. Masjid telok...
3. Sebelah tanah aruah Makcik Kedah/hj sabri
4. Tepi sungai rantau panjang (rumah baru aruah sahak shawal)
5. Belakang surau simpang baru
6. Tanah rumah ustaz Misbahun/surau simpang lama
7. Yg lain kecik2...sbb tanam sebelah rumah msing2 tu
a. Kawasan rumah brongko/sharif bachik 3kubur
b. Kawsan rumah family aruah hjh seri
c. Belakang rumah aruah murad jantan
Tapak Perkuburan Islam terkini ialah di Alur Pak Datu atau di Jalan Pusara, lorong ke Kg. Bom, tepi parit yang menghala ke Telok Mengkuang tu. Yang ini aku pasti lama juga pasal atuk aku dikebumikan di sini, sekitar 1973. Dahulu kuburan di situ boleh dijangkakan...ikut kelompok keluarga. Biasanya sesebuah keluarga akan menempatkan ahli-ahli keluarga yang mati seperti ibu ,bapa, anak, atuk, nenek berdekatan antara satu sama lain. Ingat pokok mana, ingatlah kubur siapa kepunyaan keluarga masing-masing. Mengikut kawan aku tu lagi, kalau tak silap, kubur jalan pusara tu dibuka jadi wakaf sekitar tahun 40an! Sebelum tu pun memang dah ada kubur di situ tapi tak banyak!
Banyak jenazah dr sijangkang/bt 9 dikuburkan di sini dulu sehingga mereka dapat tanah perkuburan di batu 9 pada tahun 1966.
Tapi sejak Telok berkembang menjadi Telok Angeles (kata adik aku), dah tak boleh buat macam tu lagi dah...pihak masjid yang tentukan tapak kubur, bukan ahli keluarga. Dahulu banyak pokok kemboja ditanam oleh ahli keluarga. Kadang-kadang bau bunga kemboja yang mekar mewangi itu menyeramkan pengunjung terutama apabila ada jenazah yang terpaksa dikebumikan pada waktu malam. Dahulu segala persiapan disediakan oleh orang kampung dan AJK masjid sebagai fardu kifayah termasuk kerja-kerja menggali kubur, membuat dan memikul keranda sepanjang jalan dari rumah ke tanah perkuburan. Semuanya dilakukan anak-anak muda kampung dan dipantau oleh Tok Imam Masjid. Kini zaman dah berubah. Kematian diuruskan secara separa korporat. Bayaran dikenakan daripada urusan memandikan, mengkafankan dan seterusnya mengkebumikan.Semuanya guna wang. Bukan di Telok sahaja, bahkan di serata Malaysia trendnya begitu. Dah tak ada bezanya dengan Cina. DUIT,DUIT,DUIT. Haiya, hidup susah mati pun susah!
Kedudukan tapak perkuburan lama di Batu 11 Jalan Klang Banting
Kedudukan tapak kubur lama di tepi Masjid Telok
Tapak Perkuburan Islam Telok masa kini
untuk korang renungkan...... apa nak jadi masa akan datang nanti?
Which package you choose will definitely depend on how much your family can afford so do consider this when calling the funeral services company. Whilst it is tempting to show your affection for the deceased with a gala farewell; it doesn’t do to get yourself or your family in excessive debt to do it.
If you’re strapped for even the cheapest package – check out cash aids from your local welfares or ask the company if they have an instalment programme for payment. Some companies understand that death doesn’t always happen when expected and thus are happy to ease the payment burden through easy payment plans. It’s also important to check if the deceased had an insurance plan which covers funeral costs.
At the end of the day, funeral costs need also be weighed against practicality. If you do take the baseline package without the parlor and pallbearers – are you then able to house the wake in your home/the deceased’s home and relatives to help carry the casket or offer other assistance? A funeral is a painful time for all concerned so you don’t want to be pulling your hair out worrying about arrangements whilst mourning your loved one.
Beware the ‘Death Chasers’
We received a tip-off from a funeral company recently claiming that in particular hospitals; ‘agents’ are recruited amongst staff to alert certain funeral homes when a person dies in their hospital. Within minutes of the call; relatives are bombarded at the hospital itself by representatives of the funeral home with promises of handling the whole affair. It’s like those tow-trucks you see by the side of the highway just waiting for a crash to swoop in. When family members are distraught; the last thing they want to do is deal with funeral preparations so they agree to whatever the representative suggests. This may ending up costing a lot more than it should and you’ll end up with whatever the funeral service wants you to have.
Whilst we cannot confirm this tip-off; it’s always best to be aware. It might sound morbid but always make sure you have the contact details of a reputable, trusted funeral service should your family ever need it. Also, be clear with what you want and what you are willing to pay so you aren’t fleeced during an already trying time.
Preparing your estate
There are a few ways to help lift the burden of your family members when paying for your funeral costs, other than to invest in a plot of land or columbarium.
One of it is to look into life insurance. Many life or medical policies now include an additional RM5,000 or more for funeral costs and this will be a very welcome aid indeed if loved ones are short of cash. Talk to your insurer about this and see what can be done with your insurance and how it can cover your funeral costs.
It may be also helpful to allocate savings for the purpose of burial. It’s not a palatable thought by any means but it is definitely practical.
Drawing up a will helps to ensure your next of kin is aware of where to find the money allocated for the funeral as well as settling any other inheritance matters so as not to create a spectacle at the funeral.
While it may be difficult to see through your estate planning, it will at least give you peace of mind knowing that you are doing what you can for yourself and most importantly for those you love.
Norman Funeral Services charges between RM3,000 and RM20,000 for funeral services, depending on the type of casket purchased, which ranges from affordable locally-produced medium-density fibre coffins to solid wood caskets imported from Italy or the US.
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
Norman
Funeral Services charges between RM3,000 and RM20,000 for funeral
services, depending on the type of casket purchased, which ranges from
affordable locally-produced medium-density fibre coffins to solid wood
caskets imported from Italy or the US.
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
Norman
Funeral Services charges between RM3,000 and RM20,000 for funeral
services, depending on the type of casket purchased, which ranges from
affordable locally-produced medium-density fibre coffins to solid wood
caskets imported from Italy or the US.
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
“Given a choice, Christians still prefer burial compared to cremation,” said Francis, citing the biblical verse commonly used during Christian funeral services that originates from Genesis 3:19, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”.
“But because public burial land in PJ and KL is already full, and plots are no longer available, they opt for cremation. Districts like Rawang, Klang and Kajang still have land,” added Francis, who mostly handles Christian funerals.
Francis said that some private columbariums operated by non-religious organisations charge between RM2,500 and RM5,000 for an urn niche, depending on the viewing level the urns are placed at; eye-level is deemed the most desirable.
Like Christians, Buddhists and Taoists also face a shortage of burial plots in public cemeteries.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) told The Malay Mail Online that there is no burial land available in Kuala Lumpur, and that public cemeteries in the city are now 80 per cent full.
Reeno Kong, director of NV Multi Asia (Nirvana), said that Buddhists and Taoists are increasingly moving towards cremation as the prices of private burial plots climb beyond their reach.
He noted that back in 1990 when Nirvana was the first bereavement company founded in Malaysia, their double burial plot cost just RM7,000 to RM10,000.
“RM50,000 is the average price of a funeral overall (now) if you choose to bury. That’s why more people are going for cremation now,” Kong said.
Among Nirvana’s top-selling columbariums are the RM20,000 double urn compartments, though prices start from RM6,800 for double niches.
Despite the prices, some remain prepared to fork out the sums needed to provide their loves ones a resting place for the foreseeable future.
“Buddhists and Taoists are more willing to spend on funerals,” Kong told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“Buddhists and Taoists believe that if you buy now and build a tombstone, you can gather the feng shui and you can actually enjoy the feng shui immediately,” he said.
Nirvana, which mostly caters to Buddhist and Taoist clients, also offers various funeral service packages that range between RM30,800 and RM43,800, depending on the type of casket purchased.
Kong noted that 90 per cent of Nirvana Memorial Garden’s completed burial plots and 80 per cent of their best-selling columbarium niches have already been sold.
The Nirvana Memorial Garden, which is a sprawling 300 acres in Semenyih, houses various cemeteries and columbariums in beautifully manicured gardens.
Among its higher-end offerings are hilltop family burial plots that cost between RM600,000 and an eye-popping RM1 million. But such luxury plots can accommodate 30 caskets, Kong noted when saying: “It’s for your generations”.
Nirvana earns a revenue of RM400 million a year, including earnings from its overseas branches in Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Muslims, however, do not appear to face a problem in securing burial plots in public cemeteries.
Zulkifli Haron, who runs Fiqrah Funeral Services, said that a burial plot in a Muslim public cemetery costs only between RM300 and RM600, while a mosque would charge RM600 to wash and shroud the body (mandi kafan). A tombstone for a Muslim grave costs more or less RM1,000, though rare high-end ones can touch RM10,000.
“Most Muslims are buried at public cemeteries. Normally, private cemeteries are for public figures or those who made their bookings earlier,” Zullkifli told The Malay Mail Online in a recent email interview.
He added that Muslim clients prefer to take up his services, which cost between RM1,800 and RM2,000, as mosque officials are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes lack speed.
Zulkifli also said his business focuses on the repatriation of foreigners of all religions who die in Malaysia, where he charges at least RM4,800 for destinations in Southeast Asia, more than RM5,500 for East Asia, RM10,000 and above for the Middle East, and at least RM15,000 for Europe and Oceania.
Parama Sarathy Naidu Supramaniam @ Appu, founder of KL Funeral Services, said that Hindus typically cremate their dead and cast the ashes in the sea or river.
“They’ll usually take a boat at Port Klang, then move out for less than 1km, and throw the ashes,” Parama Sarathy Naidu told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.
“If Port Klang is too far, they’ll go to the riverside at Templer’s Park. Some also bring the ashes back to India to cast them in the Ganges River,” added the funeral business owner, who mainly serves Hindu clients.
KL Funeral Services’ charges start from RM1,800 and can go up to RM25,000, depending on the type of coffin purchased.
Parama Sarathy Naidu observed, however, that the bereavement industry has expanded over the decades in Malaysia as demand for more elaborate death rites grows.
“In 1989, a funeral cost RM1,200, maximum RM3,000,” he said, pointing out that his popular packages now are the ones costing between RM6,000 and RM7,000.
“Last time, they used lorries to bring the hearse. Now, even a Toyota Hiace can’t be used. If you use a lorry, they’ll chase you from the house. People use Mercedes, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Estima now,” Parama Sarathy Naidu added.
Francis said that his funeral service packages — which can cost an average of RM7,000 to RM10,000 — have now been tailored to include providing acoustic guitarists who play gospel music at the wake and later on at the cemetery or crematorium, floral arrangements that match the theme of the funeral, and even photography or video during the ceremony that is later edited and synced with traditional gospel hymns and saved in a DVD.
While prices of bereavement services may be creeping up, it is said that nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Even as Nirvana plans to expand to Thailand and China, Kong pointed out that there are now 20 private memorial parks in Malaysia run by competitors since his father started the company in 1990.
“As we become more modern, we offer a different choice to customers. That’s why now, you see that people are more willing to purchase privately-owned memorial parks,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/even-in-death-no-escape-from-rising-prices#sthash.EqI8iy9o.dpuf
