Melaka will introduce new rules for NGO-run Muslim funeral services to prevent exploitation and fraud, says state exco.
MELAKA: The Melaka government, through the state Islamic Religious Council (MAIM), will introduce operational guidelines for funeral management, particularly for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in the near future.
State Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman (pic) said the guidelines are aimed at preventing NGOs involved in funeral management from exploiting bereaved families by imposing unreasonable charges or misleading them under the guise of charitable work, following a recent viral case involving a hearse service operated by an NGO in the state.
He said one of the requirements under the proposed guidelines is that NGOs involved in funeral management must be registered with both MAIM and the Registrar of Societies (RoS), to facilitate monitoring, including of service charges, and to enable audits to be conducted when necessary.
“Following the incident that went viral on social media, we see an urgent need to introduce operational guidelines for funeral management services, including hearse services, in the state, to prevent NGOs from taking advantage of bereaved families and to safeguard the image of Islam.
“If an NGO intends to impose charges for the services it provides, it must clearly inform the deceased’s next of kin. If the service is offered free of charge, the NGO should not demand any payment, although it may accept voluntary contributions at the discretion of the family,” he told reporters after the 2026 Teachers’ Day celebration and the 2025 Academic Excellence Awards for the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) religious schools here today.
He was commenting on allegations by an NGO that a hearse service operator in Melaka had claimed to provide free services on a charitable basis, but later demanded what was described as a hefty payment from bereaved families after transporting the deceased.
Commenting on the viral case involving the hearse service operator, Rahmad said the NGO was not registered with either MAIM or the Registrar of Societies (RoS), and had been operating without MAIM’s knowledge.
“I deeply regret what happened and believe it should never have occurred. It appears to have been a case of deception. If the affected families are dissatisfied, they are advised to lodge a police report,” he said.
Rahmad said MAIM has officers stationed at all hospitals in the state, and bereaved families can seek advice on the funeral management services available.
He added that MAIM also provides hearse services at hospitals free of charge for funerals within Melaka, although a nominal fee is imposed for transporting the deceased outside the state.
Meanwhile, Deputy State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications Committee chairman and Duyong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem said in a Facebook post today that he viewed the matter seriously and had arranged a meeting between his representatives and those of the NGO involved.
He said the NGO admitted to its wrongdoing, including collecting payments from bereaved families to cover its operating costs, and had agreed to cease operations with immediate effect.
