NUANCES of disrespect by the power that be to the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin continue to be heard, the most intriguing being that he should have been accorded a state honour of being buried at the Makam Pahlawan (Heroes’ Mausoleum) in the vicinity of the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
This followed the labelling of hypocrisy by political activist and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya of how Daim was being treated badly when he was alive only for his contributions to be cherished after his demise (this seems to be part of the Muslim etiquette of saying nice things about the dead).
“Tun Daim deserves to be buried at the National Mosque’s Makam Pahlawan just like the late (Tan Sri) Jamaluddin Jarjis (tycoon and former science, technology and innovation minister who died in a helicopter crash on April 4, 2015),” lamented netizen Adam (@adamxmy) on the X platform.
Tun Daim selayaknya di kebumikan di Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara sepertimana Allahyarham Jamaluddin Jarjis. https://t.co/heVXrW98lx
— Adam (@adamxmy) November 13, 2024
The afterthought by Adam triggered numerous responses which despite bordering religious sensitivity, does offer invaluable insights into enhancing the understanding of non-Muslims regarding the Islamic funeral/burial etiquette.
For starter, if one does not have nice things to say about the deceased, it is best to keep one’s mouth to himself as social media influencer Malaysian Affairs (@msianaffairs) found out for his blunt comment that there is a need “to allocate a special cemetery for national thieves” to which brickbats were hurled at him.
This is when one sensible commenter stated that there is no restriction whatsoever by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as to where Daim should be buried while another seconded that even if one were to be buried at the Heroes’ Mausoleum, “that, too, doesn’t guarantee a ticket to heaven”.
Above all else, as one commenter decently put it, the Almighty has determined that Daim’s final resting place should be at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery.
As another commenter rightly pointed out, since the deceased has departed from this impermanent world, let his sins – if any – be judged in the thereafter.
Moreover, one commenter suggested that it could be his family’s decision to bury Daim at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery “near where his late first wife was laid to rest”.
At the end of the day, as one commenter cheekily stated, “you can bury the deceased wherever you like but the pending court case will still proceed”. – Nov 15, 2024
