Choosing a final resting place for departed loved one could be a daunting process for many. When death occurs, family often find themselves rushed into making major decisions at the time when they are emotionally overwhelmed, and at times, mentally and financially unprepared.

In the past two decades, Malaysian Chinese community has largely opened up to the idea of planning ahead in this respect, and many have even made the decision to “purchase” a final resting place for themselves, or for their loved ones, during their lifetime. The benefits of planning ahead include:

• exercising and retaining certain autonomy in selecting the final resting place that one desires
• taking advantage of the financial aid offered by memorial park operators, usually in the form of promotional pricing and instalment payment method
• leaving a legacy of love and also peace of mind for oneself and his/her loved ones
• embracing open and constructive discussions of death and dying hence reducing taboo and fear

This practice of making preparation for eventuality of death dates back to thousands of years in Chinese history. People aspired for “the arrival of five blessings” （五福臨門）- to conclude that one had lived a fulfilled life (圓滿人生). It is a beautiful spirit to have the end (good death) in mind, as we chart a life filled with the other four blessings, namely longevity, prosperity, health and good character.

The various Chinese cemeteries, some dated more than a century old, that we still see at major cities and towns throughout Malaysia mark the historical footprint of the Malaysian Chinese community. The tombs, be it elaborated or humble in structure, embodied not just the ancestors’ remains but also valuable and unique life stories that are still being remembered by their next generations. Many families gather at the cemeteries as in the form of “family reunion” with the extended families. A cemetery’s role is thus far magnanimous, and its social and environmental footprint immeasurable.

The Chinese cemetery landscape, traditionally managed by clan associations, has changed drastically when private corporations started developing garden landscape and modern design memorial parks. The industry has developed robustly since the mid nineties, and it remained largely self-regulated until the landmark decision made by the Federal Court in the Nirvana case in year 2010.

Note: At the publication time, Malaysia is going through a second nationwide Movement Control Order where inter-district and inter-state travelling is restricted. This has highlighted the importance of planning ahead so that family need not be burdened with memorial parks to choose a final resting place when sudden death occurs during any such travel restrictions. In the next few Articles, we will be discussing some major and legal considerations to look at during the purchase process for a final resting place in private memorial parks in Malaysia.

五福含意：第一福是「長壽」、第二福是「富貴」、第三福是「康寧」、第四福是「好德」、第五福是「善終」。《洪範》論幸福，幸福有五：長壽是命不夭折而且福壽綿長； 富貴是錢財富足而且地位尊貴； 康寧是身體健康而且心靈安寧； 好德是生性仁善而且寬厚寧靜； 善終是臨命終時，沒有遭到橫禍。五福合起來才能構成圓滿的人生。