FUNERAL and burial of people who succumbed to COVID-19 have become talk-of-the-town since FocusM broke the news about unscrupulous funeral homes linked to public hospitals hiking up prices to perform the final rites on Hindus who died of COVID-19.
Migrant Care Malaysia (Migrant CARE) has urged the Government to quickly stop irresponsible funeral services companies from exploiting vulnerable and migrant communities whose relatives have succumbed to COVID-19.
The non-government organisation (NGO) aimed at safeguarding the welfare of migrant workers in Malaysia reported that it had received a growing number of complaints from migrant workers of funeral services syndicates charging them above and beyond the regular market price – sometimes even double of what a Malaysian citizen would have paid.
“It is regrettable to hear cases where family members of migrant workers disowning or renouncing the body of their loved ones because they cannot afford to pay for the exorbitant funeral expenses,” commented Migrant CARE coordinator Alex Ong. “Everyone deserves a decent death and burial.”
According to Ong, the NGO had to step in to help manage three COVID-19-related death cases that funeral services companies demanded fees that are way beyond the normal.
“We are now hearing that these funeral syndicates are now trying to target Malaysian citizens as well with claims of case overload, high expenses related to a burial lot and SOPs (standard operating procedures),” he added.
Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister Prof P Ramasamy called on the Government to be fair when it comes to the burial or cremation of those who die of COVID-19 infections.
“While there is a host of agencies aided by the Government that provide free funeral services for Muslims, this is not the case with non-Muslims in the country,” he told FocusM. “Non-Muslims have to pay high costs of funeral services whether they are Christians, Buddhists or Hindus.”
According to Ramasamy, the present circumstances are extraordinary that extraordinary efforts are required on the part of the Government and its agencies to play a significant role.
“I suggest that the Government in ameliorating the financial burden of non-Muslims, identifies funeral homes or undertakers in different religious communities with aim to assist them,” he suggested.
“By agreeing to financially offset the funeral charges related to COVID-19 deaths, the burden experienced by B40 families could be to some extent relieved.”
In Ramasamy’s view, what the Government had to do is very simple which is to ask the respective religious communities through their representatives to provide a list of funeral homes or undertakers.
“Once the selection is done through consultation, then a public announcement could be made with regard to funeral homes or undertakers that can provide free services for the dead,” he added. – July 23, 2021
Photo credit: AP News
