COVID-19; Funeral Costs Are Leaving Struggling Hindu Families In Great Debt

As the pandemic worsens nationwide, the funeral costs for Hindus who have succumbed due to COVID-19 are mounting on a daily basis. It has eventually driven the low-income and working-class families, who have been disproportionately affected by both the economic and the health fallouts due to the pandemic to a frantic state.

The President of Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS), Datuk RS Mogan Shan stated that they’ve been receiving quite a number of complaints from the Indian community, by mentioning that some funeral homes are demanding up to RM 5,000 to perform the final rites.

This above amount is ridiculous as thousands of them have lost their jobs, whilst many are forced to use up the little savings they have left.

On top of that, a video has been going viral on social media, where an unknown individual has alleged that some unscrupulous funeral homes affiliated to state hospitals were inflating fees to perform final rites for Hindus.

Watch the full video HERE!

The man has stated that certain hospitals such as Kajang and Seremban were charging up to RM3,500 to cremate or bury Hindus who died due to COVID-19.

He even questioned;

“Does the money go to the hospital? Or is it going to some sort of intermediary or organisation?”

Acknowledging the ridiculous cost of funerals, the man urged the government and Hindu non-governmental organisations (NGO) to rectify the issue, as it’s been affecting families who are suffering financially and especially those who are from the B40 group.

Following the issue, Mogan has provided a breakdown on the crematorium charges:

Services- RM700

Local council – RM200 – RM300

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – RM200

Transport – RM500

Casket – RM500

Profit – RM500

So, the total funeral costs should be RM 2,500 which makes sense for the simple crematorium. If that’s the full cost, where is the rest of the money going to? Someone needs to be made accountable!

This outbreak has taught us another lesson, that is:

“You can’t die during this pandemic because it’s too expensive.”

Mogan, who blew the whistle on this matter has urged the Ministry of Health (MoH) to let MHS handle the last rites of Hindus who died due to COVID-19, by promising that they would keep things under control from all sides.

Information Source: Focus Malaysia