Operation Zipper...Kembalinya Tentera British ke Morib

Assalamualaikum semua. Apa khabar semua? Bertemu lagi kita di sini setelah sekian lama menghilang. Rindu bebenor aku dengan korang. Setakat ini dah ramai otai-otai asal Telok yang telah pergi menghadap Ilahi termasuklah kawan sebaya, teman sepermainan dan juga saudara aku, Allahyarham Azmi, 50 tahun, cucu arwah Paklong Alias yang selalu aku sebut-sebut dalam entri-entri aku yang terdahulu, akibat komplikasi kencing manis. Terkilan aku tak sempat bertegur sapa dengannya sebelum berita kematiannya diberitahu oleh saudara maraku di TPG. Alfatihah. Semoga roh-roh mereka dicucuri rahmat Allah dan dan ditempatkan bersama-sama roh-roh para mukmin yang beriman. 

Oklah. Kali ini aku nak ceritakan lagi kepada korang tentang kisah dulu-dulu, bukan masa kecil aku, tahun 60-an dan 70-an tetapi lebih jauh ke belakang. Zaman emak dan abah aku baru kenal dunia, Zaman atuk nenek kita belajar menendang keluar Mat-mat Salleh yang hidung tinggi dan bongkak itu. Zaman ketika mereka bertemu buku dengan ruas. Zaman Orang putih yang besar dan tegap dihalau keluar dari Malaya oleh tentera yang pendek, kemetot dan hidung penyek serta mata sepet itu.. Zoooooooooommm. I'll take you back to the future, zaman Perang Jepun. Mat Salleh masa itu berbangga benor dengan kekuatan militer mereka,khasnya kekuatan naval, atau tentera laut mereka. Pendekkan cerita, Singapura, kubu kebal mereka akhirnya jatuh ke tangan Jepun pada bulan Februari 1942. 

Oklah…kita teruskan lagi kisah Jepun ini. 3 tahun 8 bulan lamanya Jepun menjadi tuan baharu kepada rakyat Malaya terutama orang-orang Melayu. Mula-mula orang Melayu seronok kerana penjajah dah keluar dan kita dijanjikan kemerdekaan. Tapi si pendek Jepun ini lagi terror otaknya daripada Mat Salleh. Diorang boleh kata 'biarlah Jepun menjadi abang kepada adik-adik di Malaya, memberi tunjuk ajar.' Maknanya mereka nak jadikan Malaya tanah jajahan mereka. Apa dah nasib? Asyik kena tipu jer orang Melayu. Semua orang tipu Melayu. Cina tipu Melayu. Omputeh tipu Sultan dan Raja Melayu. Ingatkan keluar mulut rimau selamat sudah. Rupanya disambar masuk ke mulut naga. Tapi alhamdulillah orang Melayu dan India dilayan dengan baik oleh tentera Jepun. Tak macam kaum Cina. Benci bebenor Jepun dengan Cina. Tapi dalam baik-baik tu, dah ramai dah orang yang kena penampar Jepun, minum air sabun sampai kembung,dan hilang kepala disamurai dek Jepun dalam tempoh tersebut. 

Tapi itulah realiti hidup masa perang. Barang-barang keperluan tak cukup. hiduplah orang-orang kita dalam keadaan penuh kedaifan dan hampir kebuluran. Mulalah diorang buat perbandingan hidup antara zaman omputeh dengan Jepun bagero. Baru terasa perit. Apa taknya? Barang- barang keperluan  seperti beras tak pernah cukup, harga pulak melambung tinggi. Tak mampu nak beli. Itu pun dicatu. Aku belek-beleklah artikel dalam internet, nak cari kenapa beras tak cukup. Rupa-rupanya selama ini beras-beras yang dimakan oleh penduduk Malaya diimport dari Siam dan Burma (sekarang dipanggil Myanmar). Jadi, korang tahulah beras ini kalau nak dibawa ke Malaya, mesti dibawa naik kapal. Tapi seringkali kapal dagang Jepun ditenggelamkan dek bedilan torpedo kapal selam tentera Berikat yang menguasai lautan Hindi dan laut-laut berdekatan. Jadi bekalan beras ke Malaya terputus. Lagi pun Jepun mengutamakan tentera dan rakyat di negara mereka terlebih dahulu. Semua beras dari negara-negara jajahan seperti Burma, Indo China, Indonesia, dan Korea dibawa pulang ke Jepun untuk stok perang.

Getah dan bijih timah dah tak berharga lagi. Kalau dahulu sebelum perang, getah dan bijih timah dijual untuk pasaran Eropah dan Amerika. Adalah pendapatan untuk orang-orang kampung dan Cina di bandar. Tapi sekarang time perang. Mana ada kapal dagang yang berani? Kalau nak menempah maut, cubalah belayar tanpa iringan kapal tentera laut! Apapun tak boleh! APTB, kata arwah Yus, pelawak terkenal itu. Terpaksalah kita menelan pahit dan perit kehidupan zaman perang. Beras tak ada, terpaksalah tanam ubi kayu. Janji perut berisi. Nak goreng ke, rebus ke, bakar ke, pandai-pandai koranglah. 

Tapi alhamdulillah. Reda atau pasrah, kehidupan diteruskan seperti biasa, Engkau, aku, kita serupa. Kaya atau miskin tak ada bezanya. Rupanya kita diuji Allah agar berserah bertawakal hanya kepadaNya. Jangan bergantung harap dengan manusia lain, terutamanya yang bukan Islam. Duit ada tapi dah tak bernilai lagi. Sejak duit pokok pisang yang dikeluarkan oleh Pemerintah Jepun menggantikan duit Straits Dollar keluaran British, harga barangan melambung tinggi. Apa tidaknya! Duit Jepun dicetak tanpa kawalan, tak ada nombor siri.

Bangang tak bangang Jepun ini! Issy..korang tengoklah sendiri jadual perbandingan harga barang keperluan time itu.... Kalau aku pun bengang habis dengan Jepun ni. Belum pun hilang perit rasa penampar dia hari itu, ditambah pula harga barang menggila naik. 

Perbandingan harga barangan keperluan 1941-1945

Memang patut pun orang mula menyampah dengan tentera Jepun. Mereka ternanti-nanti kepulangan penjajah berkulit putih itu ke Malaya. Mereka sedia bertuankan kembali Omputeh berbanding Jepun.Mereka dah jelak makan ubi kayu.Mereka rindukan nasi.Hinggalah pada satu malam….

Ooops...Korang bacalah buku sejarah kalau nak tahu lebih lanjut. Aku lebih berminat nak fokuskan entri aku kali ini dengan kisah hari-hari terakhir pendudukan Jepun di Selangor terutamanya di Kuala Langat.

Kali ini aku nak detailkan, perincikan tentang Operation Zipper. Korang pernah dengar tak?

Operation Zipper ini nama operasi ketenteraan Tentera Berikat untuk menawan semula Malaya selepas Jerman mengaku kalah pada bulan Mei, sekali gus menamatkan Perang Dunia Kedua di Eropah. Hitler dah bungkus, Mussolini dah ditembak mati, tinggal Tojo sahaja yang masih berkuasa di Asia Pasifik. Jepun dah mula kalah di Burma. Mereka berundur ke selatan Thailand. Tentera Amerika Syarikat dah menawan Iwo Jima. Jepun di ambang kehancuran. Jadi British merancang menawan kembali Malaya dan seterusnya Singapura. Tapi sebelum itu, bacalah intro ini dulu...

Ketika Perang Dunia Kedua , pihak tentera Jepun telah menjadikan Istana Bandar sebagai ibu pejabat mereka di Kuala Langat. Walaupun Istana bandar tempat Sultan Alaudin bersemayam dan mangkat pada tahun 1938, istana ini dalam keadaan terbiar sehinggalah tentera Jepun mengambil alihnya. Mengapa mereka memilih istana ini sebagai HQ mereka? Hal ini kerana istana ini dibina menggunakan batu dan konkrit yang lebih kukuh untuk perlindungan berbanding istana-istana kayu Melayu.Walaupun setelah Jepun berundur dan menyerah kalah, istana ini ditinggalkan begitu sahaja. Terbiar.

Istana Bandar (Istana 40 bilik)

Istana Temasha dibina oleh Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah pada tahun 1899 dengan perbelanjaan baginda sendiri di sebuah perkampungan bernama Bandar.  Istana ini dibina mengikut senibina di Timur Tengah dan mempunyai 40 buah bilik. Itulah sebabnya istana ini juga dikenali Istana 40 bilik. Pembinaan istana ini sungguh kukuh di bahagian tengahnya terdapat 2 tingkat mengandungi 4 bilik utama iaitu bilik peraduan, bilik mengadap, bilik tetamu dan persemayaman baginda sultan. Bahan binaan di bahagian atas istana ini diperbuat daripada kayu cengal dan diukir serta dilorek mengikut corak tertentu oleh tukang yang mahir yang mengambarkan seni Islam tulen.Dari bahagian tengah bersambung hingga ke pintu besar arah ke selatan.

Di bahagian mengarah ke utara di adakan beranda iaitu kawasan lapang tidak beratap dan berdinding dengan kisi-kisi batu sebagi tempat berehat di waktu petang atau malam. Tempat ini juga pernah diadakan jamuan kecil .

Jika dipandang dari arah utara, istana ini mempunyai tiga bumbung berkembar tetapi jika dilihat dari rusuk istana ini mempunyai bumbung yang sejajar kecuali dibahagaian hadapannya. Jika ditilik dari perbuatan dan bentuk bangunan ini ada persamaannya dengan Istana Mahkota Kelang.

Dari seni pahat dan ukirannya mengambarkan senibina Islam tulen di bahagian pintu dan tingkap keadaannya melengkung. Di setiap sudut terdapat tiang-tiang kecil meruncing ke atas dibeberapa tempat. Sesekali terbayang juga di hati kita istana ini mirip bangunan istana Alhambra di Granada, Sepanyol yang pernah disebut sebagai senibina moor (Moorish-architecture). 

Selain itu dari kawasan berdinding disediakan pula sebuah pintu kecemasan menghala ke kawasan tanah lapang bertembok setinggi 2 kaki. Dari kawasan lapang terdapat dua buah pintu untuk keluar. Kemungkinan pintu ini sebagai persediaan jika berlaku perkara-perkara yang mencemaskan. Susunan bilik-bilik di dalamnya diatur dengan rapi seolah-olah merupakan petak-petak bilik pejabat kerajaan mengelilingi sekitar bangunan.

Keadaan Istana Temasha ini kelihatan masih kukuh tersergam indah di atas sebidang tanah lapang. Pada 1978 ada ura-ura kerajaan Selangor akan mengeluarkan suatu peruntukan yang besar untuk memperbaik istana ini supaya keadaannya terpelihara dan menjadi kesan sejarah lambang kegemilangan kerajaan Selangor di zaman silam. Ketika itu boleh dikatakan Istana Temasha ini adalah salah sebuah istana yang tercantik, bukan sahaja pada bentuk dan perhiasannya tetapi juga rekabentuknya. Jika dibandingkan dengan istana Sultan Deli yang dibina dalam tahun 1898, istana temasha adalah lebih indah dan menarik. Istana Sultan Deli ini lebih besar dan dibentuk menurut keadaan dan alam Deli, Sumatera Utara.bina Islam tulen di bahagian pintu dan tingkap keadaannya melengkung. Di setiap sudut terdapat tiang-tiang kecil meruncing ke atas dibeberapa tempat. Sesekali terbayang juga di hati kita istana ini mirip bangunan istana Alhambra di Granada, Sepanyol yang pernah disebut sebagai senibina moor (Moorish-architecture).

Di Morib mereka membina kubu tepi pantai pula, Mes pegawai atasan mereka pula di Rumah Rehat pegawai kerajaan. Hahahaha….pasti korang terkejut beruk kalau aku katakan mereka juga telah membina sebuah landasan terbang untuk operasi kapal terbang Zero mereka di Ladang Kelanang, tidak jauh dari Simpang Morib. Sebenarnya mereka tidak berminat untuk membina pengkalan tentera udara mereka di situ, cukup hanya beberapa buah berek dan hangar untuk satu, dua  skuadron kapal terbang mereka. Lokasinya yang tersorok kira-kira 1km dari jalan raya Kelanang-Simpang Morib dan Kg. Sungai Arak dan dikelilingi pokok kelapa, memang strategik dan ada unsur kejutan kepada pengintip tentera Berikat. Landasan sejauh satu batu setengah ini penting untuk kawalan dan tinjauan udara di pesisir pantai antara Pelabuhan Klang dan Port Dickson, dan sebagai bantuan sokongan kepada markas tentera darat mereka di pantai Morib. Sejujurnya, aku rasa TUDM Jugra patut membina landasan udaranya di tempat yang sama, bagi tujuan yang sama. Mungkin zaman dah berubah. Dengan kecanggihan radar dan satelit kini, hal ini dah tak penting lagi, kot? 

Peta Topografi menunjukkan Lapangan Udara Tentera Jepun di Kelanang
 pada tahun 1945

Pemandangan tapak Bekas Lapangan Udara tersebut pada tahun 2015

Pada ketika jam menunjukkan pukul 3 pagi waktu Colombo,Sri Lanka, ratusan buah kapal perang dan kenderaan mendarat pihak Berikat dengan kekuatan lebih daripada 100,000 orang berlabuh di perairan Pelabuhan Swettenham, Morib, Bagan Lalang, dan Port Dickson. Ketika itu air tengah pasang. D-Day untuk Malaya telah bermula.

Three different landing zones were selected. 25th Division will landed on Morib Beach, 37th Brigade will get to the Bagan Lalang Beach, 10 miles south Morib and 23rd Division will scattered on Port Dickson beach. The SS Dunera arrived off Morib Beach on the 9th according to the log of my father's RAF squadron - the 89th Squadron. They also transferred to LCIs and then another transfer to smaller landing craft before wading ashore on the afternoon of the 9th. They set off on a 10 mile march to a transit camp at Telok Datok, same one as the 3210 I expect. But it was too late in the day and so they were ordered to bivouac. It was so dark they couldn't see where they were setting up their tents. Unfortunately, some erected their tents on a dry river bed which, unbeknown to them, was subject to flash flooding. They woke up during the night in several inches of water! Overnight monsoon rains thoroughly soaked them and all their kit. When they arrived at Telok Datok, which was no more than a collection of huts, it took two days to dry out!

Pelan Serangan Operation Zipper 1945

Boarding a Landing Ship Tank from SS Chitral for landing at Morib, Malaya, September 1945.

Seaborne landings made by the 7th and 12th Parachute Battalions on the Morib beaches, 1945

Members of 12 Para Bn landing at Morib Beach, Malaysia, September 1945.

Members of the 12th Para Bn march off having landed
 at Morib Beach, Malaya, September 1945.

Mereka menjangkakan tentangan hebat daripada pihak Jepun di Morib tetapi memandangkan Hiroshima telah dibom atom pada pertengahan Bulan Ogos tahun 1945, Berikutan peristiwa itu, Jepun telah menyerah kalah,Operation Zipper diteruskan namun tanpa serangan tentera dan kini Operation Tiderace dilancarkan pada 9 September 1945, dengan  bala tentera yang sama dalam Operation Zipper. Pengambilan landasan udara Kelanang dilakukan setelah pendaratan tentera di Morib. Pihak Jepun seolah-olah telah mengetahui hal ini dan menyerahkannya kepada tentera udara British. Beberapa buah kapal terbang Zero milik Jepun masih kelihatan di landasan ketika Tentera Udara Berikat mendarat:

Arriving, we flew a wide circuit around the field, looking for any obstructions on the runway. Nothing was seen so we did a low level, line astern pass along the runway, peeled off and came in for landing. We all landed safely and as we ran to the end of the runway, we looked around for any of our troops that were supposed to be there.. At the end of the runway, we turned around and on instructions from the Wingco, kept our engines running and await developments. Sure enough, what appeared to be hundreds of soldiers came marching down the runway towards us. Unfortunately, it was the wrong army. Our "greeters" were all Japanese.The Wingco told us to remain in our planes. He switched off climbed out and walked towards the advancing troops led by several officers. One drew his sword and for a brief moment we suspected the worst, but he offered it to the Wingco who signalled us to switch off. We then organised the soldiers to manhandle the aircraft off the runway to clear the way for the next wave of six aircraft from the "Trumpeter" to land...We were then driven off to the Jap Officers Mess which we appropriated for our use. 

Gambar penyerahan dan Perletakan Senjata oleh Tentera Jepun 1945
(lokasi tidak diketahui sama ada di Kelanang Airfield atau di Kuala Lumpur)

Tiada tentangan daripada pihak Jepun di situ kerana mereka telah pun bergerak ke Kuala Lumpur untuk upacara penyerahan senjata tanda mengaku kalah kepada pihak Berikat. Tentera Jepun sudah mula menyerah di Penang dan Singapura. Walaupun tak mendapat tentangan,  operasi sebesar ini menjadi masalah kerana pantai berlumpur Morib. Lebih 300 buah kenderaan tentera tersadai di pantai Morib kerana terkandas di beting-beting pasir dan ditinggalkan begitu sahaja sehinggalah pada tahun 1948, seorang kontraktor membeli kesemua bangkai kenderaan yang dah berkarat tersebut untuk dijual sebagai besi buruk. Penyerahan Senjata oleh Tentera Jepun di Malaya dilakukan oleh  Lieutenant General Ishiguro kepada Lieutenant General Roberts (XXXIV Corps) pada 13 September di Kuala Lumpur.

Penyerahan Tentera Jepun pada tahun 1945 di Kuala Lumpur

Siapa Panglima Garang?

Assalamualaikum....

Kali ini info Saya ringkas jer. Tentang asal usul nama Telok Panglima Garang. Yang ini diceritakan oleh anak keturunan sendiri. Walaupun mungkin dipertikaikan kerana tiada bukti diberi, namun pengkisahannya membenarkan dan merupakan rentetan cerita asal usul TPG dan hubungkaitnya dengan keluarga diraja Selangor ketika itu...Mohon dibaca dengan fikiran terbuka..

TIDAK dapat dipastikan siapa gerangannya Panglima Garang yang sebenar. Malah menjadi persoalan dalam kalangan penduduk sama ada Panglima Garang adalah satu gelaran atau nama sebenar seseorang individu memandangkan terdapat pelbagai versi yang disampaikan mengenai gerangan individu yang dikatakan sebagai Panglima Garang.

Namun, menurut salah seorang penduduk asal tempatan, Norlilah Abdullah, 48, datuknya merupakan individu yang dirujuk sebagai Panglima Garang berdasarkan cerita yang disampaikan oleh arwah ibunya, orang-orang tua dan ketua kampung terdahulu.“Datuk dahulu diceritakan pernah menjadi pengiring di istana dan diberi gelaran sebagai Panglima Hitam. Jadi, datuk dengan Sultan Selangor terdahulu ada hubung kait. Arwah nenek selalu juga pergi ke istana yang terletak di Klang, sementara arwah ibu yang masih kecil ketika itu dikatakan rapat dengan Tengku Kelana, selain dianggap seperti anak sendiri.

“Perwatakan datuk pada masa dahulu dikenali sebagai seorang panglima yang sangat garang. Semua orang takut dengan dia. Memiliki fizikal bentuk badan yang besar dan tinggi. Di istana datuk dipanggil dengan gelaran sebagai Panglima Hitam. Namun, tidak ramai yang tahu Panglima Garang dan Panglima Hitam adalah individu yang sama. Tidak dapat dipastikan pula sama ada Panglima Garang adalah satu gelaran atau nama sebenar yang digunakan datuk.

“Difahamkan datuk menggunakan nama yang berbeza di tempat-tempat lain kerana tidak mahu dikesan jejaknya atau diketahui kedudukannya. Ibu ada memberitahu bahawa faktor kedatangan datuk ke sini disebabkan pertelingkahan yang berlaku dalam kalangan adik beradik yang berebut kuasa di tanah asal di Sulawesi.

“Namun, disebabkan datuk tidak mahu berebut kuasa dengan adik beradik yang lain, jadi datuk terpaksa mengalah dan membawa diri ke tempat lain sebelum akhirnya sampai ke Telok Panglima Garang. Justeru, dia tidak akan menggunakan nama yang sama setiap kali tiba di mana-mana tempat bagi mengelakkan adik beradik lain mengesannya,” katanya.

Berdasarkan cerita yang disampaikan ibunya lagi, datuknya datang ke sini dalam satu kumpulan yang kesemuanya ada lima orang. Ketika itu, tempat ini belum dinamakan sebagai Telok Panglima Garang.

“Datuk datang menaiki perahu memandangkan kawasan di sini merupakan perairan dan turut dikatakan ada kapal-kapal pernah memasuki di lokasi berhampiran.

“Jadi, apabila sampai, datuk pun membina petempatan awal bersama yang lain. Dikatakan ada kisah penentangan terhadap hasrat Orang Asli yang hendak membina petempatan di sini juga, namun difahamkan datuk menolak keras dan menghalau mereka.

“Ini kerana datuk mahukan petempatan yang hanya diduduki oleh orang-orang dia sahaja. Maka sebab itu, kebanyakan Orang Asli membawa diri ke tempat lain untuk membina petempatan mereka sendiri,” katanya.

Peristiwa mengenai keberanian seorang suami menyelamatkan isterinya dari dibaham harimau menurutnya, lelaki yang dimaksudkan itu merupakan kisah datuknya.

“Mengikut cerita ibu, datuk memang seorang yang berani. Jadi, ketika harimau cuba menerkam nenek, datuk bertindak melawan sehingga akhirnya harimau itu berjaya ditewaskan.

“Disebabkan keberanian datuk tidak ada pada orang lain, maka nama tempat itu dinamakan sebagai Telok Panglima Garang memandangkan hanya orang yang garang sahaja berani menewaskan harimau tersebut,” katanya.

Dalam pada itu, bercerita tentang punca kematian Panglima Garang, Menurut Rozita Abdullah, 50, datuk dikatakan meninggal dunia akibat ditembak menggunakan peluru emas selepas selesai melakukan tugas menjaga sebuah gudang beras.

“Datuk ditembak banyak kali, namun tembakan musuh tidak pernah berjaya menembusi tubuh datuk disebabkan datuk ada mengamalkan ilmu kebal. Menerusi ilmu kebal yang menjadikan datuk kuat dan kebal daripada serangan apa jua jenis senjata. Hanya selepas salah seorang daripada rakannya memaklumkan kelemahannya kepada musuh barulah datuk mati dibunuh.

“Kelemahan yang diperkatakan adalah mengenai jenis peluru digunakan. Difahamkan hanya peluru emas sahaja yang berkesan membunuh datuk. Sebab itulah, walaupun beberapa kali ditembak menggunakan peluru biasa, namun ia tidak akan berjaya menembusi tubuh datuk. Ketika itu, arwah Pak Ucu kami iaitu Busu Bachok baru berusia dua tahun.

“Pak Ucu yang merupakan juruterbang pertama negara melakukan penerbangan ke Alaska merupakan anak bongsu daripada enam anak, hasil perkahwinan datuk dengan nenek. Di antara adik-beradik, Pak Ucu memiliki wajah yang mirip dengan wajah datuk,” katanya

Tapak Perkuburan Islam Terawal di Telok Panglima Garang

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

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

http://akubudaktelok64.blogspot.my/2014/05/kisah-harimau-di-jugra-dan-telok.html

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

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