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Malay Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Fur-ever remembered: Demand grows for pet bereavement services in Malaysia as owners seek dignified farewells
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — As pet ownership rises in Malaysia, so too does the demand for pet bereavement services, with many owners seeking meaningful ways to honour their cherished companions. According to Standard Insights' Consumer Report Malaysia 2023, which surveyed over 1,000 Malaysians, 51.1 per cent reported owning pets, with 26.4 per cent of them housing multiple pets. This growing trend has driven the normalisation of pet bereavement services, once considered a niche offering. How much will it cost? For starters, a basic funeral package offered by Nirvana Asia Group in the Klang Valley starts at RM2,800 (as-need) or RM2,300 (pre-need). It includes pick-up services, disinfection, casket, flower arrangements, and disposal by burial or cremation. For those choosing cremation, columbarium niches range between RM5,000 and RM7,500, while burial plots, though currently unavailable, were priced with a one-time maintenance fee of RM2,000. A headstone carved in the likeness of one's beloved animal companion at the Pet Memorial Garden in Nirvana Memorial Park, Semenyih. — Picture courtesy of Nirvana Asia Nirvana Asia shared that more Malaysians are viewing pets as family members, and the company has developed its offerings to meet this emotional need. 'Psychologists now acknowledge that losing a pet can impact people as deeply as losing a loved one. Recognising this, we established the Pet Memorial Garden and funeral service packages to honour the special bond between owners and their pets,' the company said in an email to Malay Mail. A personalised farewell Smaller businesses, such as Piepie Pet Memorial (M) Sdn Bhd, focus on offering tailored services that allow pet owners to bid farewell in their own way. Ceremonies can include private goodbyes, religious readings, and mementos such as ash pendants or bracelets. Owners are also given the chance to clip their pet's fur and create a paw-print keepsake. A variety of smaller mementos to store a cremated pet's ashes are available for choosing. — Picture by Miera Zulyana Co-founder Kelly Yan said public awareness about pet bereavement has grown significantly in the past five years. 'What was once considered a luxury is now seen as an integral part of the grieving process,' Yan told Malay Mail. Among their offerings, The Journey package, priced between RM2,399 and RM2,999 depending on the pet's weight and urgency, remains a popular choice. Honouring a special bond The Pet Memorial Garden in Nirvana Memorial Park, Semenyih, spans 3.8 acres and is among the largest in the region. Opened in 2007, it houses memorial monuments, including one dedicated to a local animal activist. The Pet Memorial Garden in Nirvana Memorial Park, Semenyih, consists of burial plots, columbarium niches and a memorial monument dedicated to a local animal activist. — Picture courtesy Nirvana Asia Yan believes that the rise in pet bereavement services is driven by increased pet ownership, younger generations' emotional expressiveness, and social media's role in normalising grief. 'As the industry grows, I hope we continue to elevate how we talk about pet loss — not as an afterthought but as a meaningful chapter in the bond we share with our companions,' she added.
The Star
16-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Aid for Myanmar quake victims
Kong (fourth from left) handing over a mock cheque to Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur and Selangor deputy chief executive officer Puan Sri Tong Siew Bee. Also present are NV Foundation vice-chairman Tan Kean Huat (second from left), Kong's wife Puan Sri Tan Poh Hwa (third from left) and Tzu Chi volunteers. Following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, several companies have stepped up to provide disaster relief aid. The latest is Nirvana Asia Group, Asia's largest integrated bereavement care provider, which handed over a RM1mil donation to Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia. Among post-disaster recovery efforts that the aid will fund are emergency medical aid, temporary shelters for displaced victims, and basic necessities such as food, clean water and clothing. The funds will also help with repairs to damaged infrastructure, and long-term community rebuilding efforts that include psychological counselling. Tzu Chi has long upheld the spirit of 'treating other's suffering as one's own.' It provides cross-border humanitarian aid regardless of nationality, race and religion. In every major disaster around the world, Tzu Chi volunteers are known for their swift response. They offer medical relief, supplies and emotional support. Since March 30, Tzu Chi teams have been on the ground in Myanmar. In partnership with the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur chapters of the foundation had delivered essential items to quake survivors. These included safe drinking water, 160 emergency beds, blankets, face masks, and gloves. Additionally, Tzu Chi has implemented cash-for-work initiatives to support affected locals and monks in constructing temporary zinc-roofed shelters for those who were left homeless by the disaster. Nirvana Asia founder and executive chairman Tan Sri Kong Hon Kong expressed his confidence in Tzu Chi's well-established humanitarian relief system. The group's donation to the foundation had been forefront on Kong's mind upon his learning of the quake. 'No matter the disaster, Tzu Chi volunteers are always on the front lines. 'Regardless of challenges, even when food and shelter are lacking, we still see their dedication in bringing hope to survivors,' he said. Kong believes that Tzu Chi will ensure this donation is used effectively, delivering targeted aid and spiritual comfort to disaster victims. He expressed the group's firm belief that the funds would be maximised in both material and spiritual assistance. 'In the face of tragedy, we cannot stand idly by. 'Every disaster reminds us –compassion should transcend borders,' he added. Kong said that since Nirvana Asia's establishment 35 years ago, it has consistently extended help in times of crises. The company's efforts, he said, had included over RM10mil in aid following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal in 2015, RM8mil worth in medical equipment and food provisions during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and RM500,000 for flood relief efforts in Sarawak last year. 'Beyond disaster relief, Nirvana Asia has been a consistent supporter of charitable causes, educational institutions, and social welfare efforts. 'Nirvana Asia will continue to monitor global disasters, uphold humanitarian values and fulfil our corporate social responsibility of providing tangible assistance to those in need,' said Kong.
