Migrants being charged double for funeral services, says NGO

 

An NGO says some migrant families have disowned their loved ones who have died because they cannot afford their funeral expenses.

PETALING JAYA: An NGO has raised concerns over syndicates charging migrants exorbitant fees for funeral services of loved ones who succumb to Covid-19.

Migrant Care Malaysia (Migrant CARE) said it has received complaints from migrant workers who were forced to pay double what Malaysians pay for funerals.

It urged the government to look into the matter.

“It is regrettable to hear of cases where families of migrant workers have disowned or renounced the body of their loved ones because they cannot afford funeral expenses.

“Everyone deserves a decent burial,” its coordinator, Alex Ong, said in a statement.

Ong said the NGO had to manage three Covid-19-related deaths as the funeral service provider demanded fees that were way beyond the usual rates.

“There is also an unfair premium charged to non-Malaysians claiming the bodies of deceased person from hospitals,” he said,

He said this problem was becoming acute as Malaysians were now being targeted by funeral homes, which claimed that an overload of cases and the need to follow SOPs had led to higher costs.

“We trust that the relevant authorities will step in to stop this immoral practice quickly as it may cause untoward domestic and international problems,” he said.

Malaysia has so far recorded 7,574 deaths related to Covid-19. - FMT