“Death is my business and business is good.“
– Book authored by David Powers, American writer
IN January this year, there was a death in the family. It was sudden and unexpected as the deceased was a younger person, only in her twenties. We were not prepared for this.
In such an emotionally stressful time, bereaved family members would be better off if they are spared the confusion or burden of figuring out what to do.
Burying a loved one is probably one of life’s most difficult tasks. For many, it’s a wise and compassionate decision to entrust these final rites to capable hands.
When there was a suggestion to engage an established agency like Nirvana Memorial Park to handle funeral arrangements, my family did not hesitate.
We contacted the Nirvana agent who had handled another case for us a few years ago. He was a diligent and responsible young man who carried out his tasks professionally and with respect for our religious and cultural sensitivities.
At the end of it all, the popularity of agencies like Nirvana in the country lies in their ability to provide convenience, cultural sensitivity, professionalism and emotional support during a most difficult time.
And yes, you have to expect that such professional help comes with a price. In this case, it is quite a tidy sum.
That the business of the dead can be a lucrative one today should not be a surprise.
As families become smaller and more urbanised, many no longer have the time, knowledge or capacity to handle traditional funeral rites themselves, creating strong demand for comprehensive funeral services.
Companies like Nirvana have tapped into this need by offering pre-arranged packages, premium memorial parks, and personalised ceremonies, turning death care into a multi-billion ringgit industry driven by emotion, legacy and convenience.
Death care or the business of the dead is a legitimate business and congratulations are in order for the brains behind such a set-up like Nirvana. It was a brilliant concept.
As a customer who has utilised Nirvana’s services, I have to say that the agency is most adept at seeing to the care and comfort of the loved ones of the dearly departed. They have everything in place from Day One till all is finally over and done with.
However, there is also a dark side to it, as in any business which sounds too good to be true. Hello, twenty years ago, who would think of investing in the business of the dead.
The dark side of this dead care business in Sarawak has come to light with disturbing allegations that some public hospital staff are leaking information about patient deaths to third parties – often agents linked to private funeral companies.
Last Saturday, Sarawak Health Director Dr Veronica Lugah said the health ministry was committed to ensuring public healthcare services were delivered in a transparent, ethical and accountable manner.
“In line with established rules and procedures, all healthcare service personnel are prohibited from acting as middlemen for funeral arrangements.
“Any violation of these rules and procedures will be met with disciplinary action under the Public Officers Regulations Act (Conduct and Discipline) 1993,” she said in a statement.
This unethical practice violates patient confidentiality and exploits grieving families at their most vulnerable moment.
By tipping off external agents, these insiders enable aggressive marketing tactics, where funeral service providers descend on bereaved families immediately after a death, sometimes even before the next of kin are fully informed.
This not only causes emotional distress but also undermines trust in public healthcare institutions.
I’m glad that the issue has been publicised widely in Sarawak and that health chief Dr Veronica has been open about the matter.
But this is also happening throughout the country and we expect the health ministry to act decisively to curb this troubling trend.
The ministry should enforce strict internal controls and surveillance to detect unauthorised access to patient records, especially those related to critical or deceased cases.
Then, disciplinary action, including dismissal and legal charges under privacy laws, must be taken against staff found guilty of such breaches.
The hospitals should also implement a secure protocol for death notifications, ensuring that only authorised medical personnel communicate with family members.
It is also a good idea for the ministry to introduce public awareness campaigns to educate families about their rights and warn against predatory funeral agents.
At the end of the day, it is most important for licensing and regulatory oversight of the funeral industry to be tightened to eliminate unethical competition and prevent collusion with public servants.
Only with a firm, coordinated response can this dark practice be rooted out and dignity restored to end-of-life care in Sarawak and throughout the country.
Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com
