Funeral group calls for end to ‘duit kopi'

The Star

17-07-2025

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Funeral Public Association has called for strict adherence to the law among those in the business.
Its deputy president Jamelia Looi Heng Ling said the practice of undertakers tipping hospital employees to secure clients should not be allowed as it is unethical.
'We need to follow the laws and regulations. It is not ethical (to pay) just to get some information,' she said when contacted.
As such, she said the association supports the Health Ministry's call to prohibit hospital staff from accepting any form of gratification or bribes for mortuary services.
It was reported on Monday that the ministry had issued a circular on the matter.
It said hospital staff must not provide information or personal details of the deceased to external parties involved in funeral management.
Looi said the association is well aware of the 'duit kopi' culture, adding that such a practice among undertakers has been ongoing for many years.
('Duit kopi' or literally 'coffee money' refers to informal payments or a 'token of appreciation' to get or expedite certain services.)
A member of a non-governmental organisation, who has been dealing with forensics staff in a particular hospital, said the competition among undertakers has intensified in recent years.
'You can always see them in the vicinity of the forensics unit,' he said.
He also pointed out that some undertakers have almost doubled their rates in recent times, claiming that this could be partly due to them having to 'pay' to get information about the deceased.
Citing an example, he said the complete ceremony of bathing the remains of a deceased non-Muslim, transporting the body in a hearse, coffin cost, priest fees and cremation charges used to cost less than RM2,500 but this has now almost doubled.
'This has caused unnecessary hardship, especially to B40 and M40 families,' he said.
As such, he said he is glad the authorities have issued a reminder to hospital staff to not accept any form of gratification or bribes for mortuary services.
In some cases, he said undertakers also engage moneylenders to offer loans to the family of a deceased unable to settle their bill in one go.
'Sometimes when a family turns up at the mortuary, the remains of the deceased would have already be placed in a coffin.
'They would have no choice but to agree to the charges asked by the undertaker as the remains cannot be kept any longer at the mortuary,' he said.
Another individual, also speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed to know of cases where undertakers would go up to the ward to speak with the next-of-kin of a terminally ill patient.
'How would they know there is such a sick person in the first place?' he asked.
In one case, a Selangor resident, whose relative died at a hospital in Johor recently, was surprised to get a call from an undertaker offering his services to bring home the remains for the final rites.
'I was wondering how an undertaker in another state obtained my mobile number,' she said, adding that she eventually arranged for a hearse provided by a religious organisation at a minimal charge.
As for Muslim burials, Mohammad Mukhlis Rahim, who is the assistant director of the funeral management unit under the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), said there are strict procedures involved.
'Jawi only handles Muslim burials for unclaimed bodies, while the rest will be handled by the respective family members or next of kin.
'The cases differ depending on the circumstances and the mosque committee will usually also assist,' he said.
According to him, they will receive an official request from the hospital to manage the burials for Muslims.
'So, we have proper procedures to follow and arrange everything accordingly,' he said, adding that they will only proceed once there is proper verification that the deceased was Muslim.