PJ crematorium privatisation will burden the public

Mar 22, 2025

PETALING JAYA, 11: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has raised serious concerns over the proposal by Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) to privatise the Petaling Jaya City Crematorium, located at Section 51, following an upcoming RM8 to RM12 million upgrade.

In a recent statement, the Mayor of Petaling Jaya reassured the public that MBPJ would continue to oversee the management of the crematorium to ensure high-quality service. He also stated that service charges would be regulated to remain reasonable. However, MCCBCHST has expressed doubts, noting that despite regulatory measures, privatisation could still lead to rising costs that may become unaffordable for many.

“The primary objective of a private business is to generate profit, and even with strict regulations, a private operator will always have grounds to increase charges. The burden of these increased costs will inevitably fall on the public, particularly those in the lower-income groups, at a time when many are already struggling with the high cost of living,” said the MCCBCHST in their March 11 statement.

The council also questioned why the provision of crematorium services, a fundamental public facility, is not considered part of the basic services provided by local authorities, especially given that citizens already contribute taxes to the government.

“MCCBCHST urges MBPJ to reconsider this privatisation proposal and instead focus on improving the efficiency of its own management of the crematorium,” the council concluded, calling for a review and abandonment of the plan.

The proposal has sparked concerns among residents who fear that the privatisation of such essential services may lead to unfair cost increases, further straining the public, particularly vulnerable communities.

Separately, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has announced plans to hold discussions before deciding on an increase in cremation service charges. On March 5, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif confirmed that, while the proposed charges were on hold, a stakeholder meeting would be organised before a final decision was made.

This follows controversy over a planned 1,200 per cent hike in cremation fees at the Jalan Kuari Crematorium in Cheras, which would have raised charges from RM100 to RM1,000, along with a daily RM300 charge for hall usage. The total cost of RM1,300 would have made it more expensive than private crematoriums, which charge between RM800 and RM1,000 for similar services.

In response to protests from funeral service providers, DBKL postponed the planned fee hikes. The authority also temporarily suspended new charges, which were part of the ‘DBKL Rate of Charges Standing Order 2025’, that had been set to take effect on February 1. City Hall has stated that it will review the situation while all charges remain at previous rates.