IGP: Malaysia has laws against bringing in human remains

Malaysia has laws to prevent people from bringing in human remains into the country, said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said the kin of deceased persons wantinvgto bring in their bodies or ashes must get a special permit under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Importation and Exportation of Human Remains, Human Tissues and Pathogenic Organisms or Substances ) Regulations 2005 in order to do so.  

“Anyone bringing in human remains without a permit is committing an offence. We fear the remains can tranmit infectious diseases. 

“So don’t think there are no laws governing this matter,” he told reporters after attending a meeting of CID heads in Kota Baru today. 

Also present were Federal CID director Hadi Ho Abdullah and Kelantan police chief Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.    

Khalid was commenting on a report in a news portal that Malaysia did not have specific laws to prevent the bringing in of human remains into the country.

This issue cropped up after it was reported that Chin Peng, a former communist leader from Malaysia who died in Bangkok on Sept 16, wanted his remains to be brought back to Malaysia.  

- Bernama