During our recent bereavement I found out there were cheats and money/blood suckers around especially times like this.
I had a call from my niece at about 7.45am saying that her dad had fainted. I told her to send him to Sunway Medical but she does not know where it is. So she send to HUKM but was pronounced dead after trying to revive him a couple of times. Then I inform all my other siblings residing in Malaysia and leave those overseas to my eldest brother.
I went to HUKM to witness my 2 ko's body and death and further arranged for the hospital assistant to take shower for him and then we all went home to arrange for the coffin and so on.
Since my niece has a friend who is an agent, we called him and he came over with the guy selling coffins. The smallest 'PACKAGE' starts with RM8,888.00 which includes:- coffin, the 'Lam Mo Lo' (LML), jossticks, candles and items needed for praying, water for our guests and of course sending the hearse to the burial ground. The 'PACKAGE' is for 3 days and 2 nights. After some discussions, my sister-in-law insisted a bus to ferry her sisters and nieces so that they won't get lost which was a good thing. So the 'PACKAGE' is now RM10,888/- which include a bus and a band and a paper house and car, and an extra car to lead/direct traffic all the way to the burial ground .
The burial ground was not decided yet cos my sil wanted Nirvana and it cost RM55,000/- the next option was Nilai which was RM19,000/- The deal will be done with another guy the following day.
By the time we finish discussing it was already 2.30pm. I was worried that the tent would not be erected in time but they promised that it will all be done properly. Ok, next we went to choose the coffin. The coffin that was suppose to be in the 'PACKAGE' is kinda small for my brother so we opted for a bigger one where we were asked to pay an extra RM800/- which actually fits my brother with no extra room. Strange no prayers were said in the hospital when we brought the body out. When we arrive home with my brother's body, the tent was still half way and the hearse was left in the car in the hot sun for a good hour before they actually erect the tent and the prayer place. Then one the guys started to take stock of the jossticks and other items for praying and asked one of my niece who was totally blur to sign the book for the items. She noticed RM1,000/- F.O.C. but did not take note of the total of the invoice. Our mistake.
Then the LML came and start ordering this and that to be done. Now the whole show is directed by and how he wants it. He was not asking for it to be done, but ordering and shouting for it to be done.
Half way thru it, I was told to order more water, kacang and candles as we have run short of it. That was the time I woke up. After some arguements, I said no need, we will go and get the water and kacang ourselves which ended up cheaper than what we paid for.
My cousins suggested to SIL to bury my 2nd bro in Sepang where all our ancestors are so that if and when all their girls are married off, even if they don't come back to pray to them, my cousins would still drop by to do that. That sounded logicaL So after some discussion with my eldest bro, decision is made to be burried in Sepang.
The guy was informed and within minutes he appears at our doorstep but to tell me that since the burial ground is changed, there will be extra charges for the difference. Before he open he say future, I agree since we are going an extra couple of miles, BUT when he say the amount, I just glare at him with open mouth. He mention that we have to top up RM1500/- to go up to Sepang. I totally disagree with the amount. To be fair I said that we top up RM500/- for petrol for all the vehicles for travelling the extra miles from Nilai to Sepang and not from our home to Sepang cos afterall the 'PACKAGE' is to send the hearse to Nilai. There was total disagreement from their boss. So after a lot of 'hoo-ha' we ended topping up RM1,000/- with the band only playing for us at home and no extra car to direct the traffic.
I requested for the band to play some of Teresa Teng's song which is my bro's favourite but they only ended playing one miserable one and the rest are mostly marching tunes. A Big DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!
In the mist of bidding last farewell to my bro and all, they have to do the checking of the praying items. I saw this guy waiting to get hold of my then sobbing SIL to sign the book. I called him over and asked what he wants from her and he showed me the book saying that we have to foot another RM214/- for some of the items used. I disagree but told him that I will talk with his boss cos no point scolding him cos he is only under instructions to this.
When we were at the burial ground, the LML was very very brief. We hardly spent 15 mins for the burial and were quickly send back to the bus. We did not even throw the soil into the grave as a sort of last farewell. The roasted pig was suppose to be offered to the earthly God was also not done. The minute we reach the place, straight away chop and eat. Of course with the LML instructions.
After we reach home, the LML again give instructions to my SIL to do this and that. Then told my niece to put an angpow (specifically RM66/-) in the earth God. He did some prayers and very professionally, folded the angpow and conveniently put it into his pocket. He also insisted on a table to put things to offer to my bro and the half table and 2 small items cost us another RM80/-
We pay but no say. Come to think of it, who says we need a LML that cost about RM3,000/- to RM4,000/- coffin seller. Who says we have to burn so many things - the coffin seller. See, most things are planned by them. Every item we use. they make at least 50% of it.
We could have just invited the Monks from Brickfields to come and say prayers like we did for our mom. Nice, clean and trouble free.
I am writing this story to highlight to EVERYONE to be careful and specific in times like this cos in most cases, the people involved are normally blur and in a rush rush manner to get things organized. In times like this, it is best to put one person in charge to organize these things.
