If the death is reported to the High Commission, and the next of kin of the deceased has not been informed, we will arrange to inform the next of kin in person as soon as possible. If circumstances do not allow us to quickly inform in person, we may have to inform the next of kin by telephone.

Following are the hotlines of funeral directors presently on register at the High Commission. They conduct Muslim burial services in the Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley area.

Casket Paradise & Funeral Care    012-3334646
Perkhidmatan Jenazah Islam          016-6315966
KL Funeral Services                           012-3333343
S.I. Casket Selayan Indian                019-3829669
VR Indian Casket                                016-2456561
RM Abadi                                              012-3978779

For other areas in Malaysia or to get an updated list please contact the High Commission. Hospitals can also provide you with contact details of funeral directors.

You should inform the High Commission or the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs without delay. It is important to let us know the following information about the deceased, if you have them.

• Name of the deceased
• Date of birth/Age
• Place where the body is lying
• Passport number
• Name and contact details of the next of kin of the deceased

We can

• Inform the next of kin of the demise.
• Keep the family informed of any developments.
• Assist in obtaining the services of funeral directors who will handle the arrangements for local burial or repatriation of the body.
• Let you know estimated cost of burial or repatriation of the body to Maldives.
• Provide help with transferring family’s funds to Malaysia for any emergency payments.
• If the death happened under suspicious circumstances we can suggest ways to proceed with such a case. (We can only provide basic information and keep you informed of the progress by liaising with Malaysian authorities if there is an investigation. We can also provide you with lists of lawyers).
• Assist in the arrangements for the return of personal belongings of the deceased.
  

• Investigate deaths.
• Provide legal advice.
• Pay for the cost of burial or repatriation.
  

If death occurs due to a natural cause in a hospital, the consultant medical practitioner concerned has to certify the cause of death. The hospital is required to register the death within 24 hours after death. The hospital will issue two documents.

1. Permission to bury remains (Burial permit)
2. Malaysian National Registration Department (JPN) Death Registration Form. (JPN 02)

For deaths outside hospitals or when the cause of death is unexplained, a police report has to be made. The next of kin, family or close friend should furnish medical history and other relevant records to the police to assist them in their investigation.

The Malaysian Police will decide if the case should be forwarded to the Coroner for a post mortem examination (autopsy). A coroner is a professional (normally a doctor (pathologist) or a lawyer) appointed by the Police to determine the cause of unexplained or violent deaths.

Under Malaysian Law, the Police have the right to order a post mortem inquiry. A post mortem will normally be performed within the shortest possible time. However, post mortems can sometimes be delayed, due to various reasons such as when pathologists are not available at short notice.

After the autopsy, the pathologist will forward the cause of death to the police investigating officer for the next course of action. Death registration will be done by the investigating officer at the police station once the post mortem is concluded.

A post mortem report can only be obtained with the written consent of the family of the deceased at the medical records office of the hospital in which the post mortem was conducted. Only the next of kin or representatives will be allowed to apply for a post mortem report.

Once the autopsy and registration is concluded, family and funeral director will be allowed to proceed with burial or repatriation of the deceased.

Once the death certificate is issued, the certificate together with identification documents such as passport and National ID Card of the deceased should be submitted to the High Commission. The High Commission will forward these to Maldivian authorities for appropriate action.

If next of kin or representative of the deceased decides to repatriate the remains of the deceased to Maldives, a funeral director specializing in repatriation of remains has to be appointed by the family. Repatriation can be costly and involves procedures and additional documents to comply with local as well as international air transportation quarantine regulations.