FUNERAL service providers have expressed doubt about Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) plan to have a private company run its crematorium.
This is following MBPJ’s proposal to privatise the operation of its crematorium in Jalan 229, Section 51A, to a company that provided funeral services through a 21-year contract.
Two funeral service providers interviewed by StarMetro raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
A Petaling Jaya-based funeral service provider, Norman Funeral Services senior partner Francis J. Mascrinhos, said there could be room for abuse over time.
“Maybe the private company will follow the rules for the first couple of years, but they could gradually make changes that go against the city council’s guidelines.
“By then, the current Petaling Jaya mayor and MBPJ department directors may have changed.”
Mascrinhos added that MBPJ personnel would still have to oversee the operations to ensure the company followed the city council’s guidelines.
“Why privatise and then still have to monitor how the private company is running the operations? It defeats the purpose of privatisation,” he said.
“After all, the crematorium is to provide a service and not to make profits,” he added.
In a StarMetro report on March 24, MBPJ had assured that rates at its crematorium will remain unchanged, even if the proposed privatisation goes through.
In a statement, MBPJ said the current rates of RM180 for adults and RM100 for children would be maintained.
Another Petaling Jaya-based funeral service provider, Siyuan Funeral Services manager Kimberly Chee said private operators may give preferential treatment or reject cremations for whatever reason.
“We may have to find alternatives. It is best for everybody if MBPJ were to continue managing the crematorium,” she said.
