Malaysia got the world most expensive confin, RM 88,888 
Dec 31 2011, 12:38 PM, updated 14y ago
CHERAS, Kuala Lumpur - Fancy resting permanently in a RM88,888 (S$36,400) coffin? This is actually slightly higher than the world's most expensive casket belonging to the Prince of Pop Michael Jackson which cost approximately RM80,000.
Imported from the United States, the solid mahogany casket costs RM88,888.
The United States-imported casket is made of solid mahogany, equipped with pure velvet bedding materials and adjustable headrest. It is exquisite and sits among many others, including bio-degradable caskets and urns, at the Xiao En Centre in Cheras.
Xiao En Centre's managing director Datuk Frank Choo Chuo Siong said the company heavily relied on filial piety and gratitude to serve its customers, hence the term Xiao En.
"The park was the brainchild of my late father Datuk Choo Ching Hwa.
"I provide services for one's last journey and ensure the deceased passes on with dignity," said Chuo Siong, who has been in the industry for more than 20 years.
The 46-year-old said his late father was determined to provide the best for the dead after bad experiences concerning Chuo Siong's grandfather.
"The funeral packages are catered for Buddhists, Taoists and Christians."
He said the packages cost between RM9,888 and RM39,888, while bio-degradable caskets and urns began from RM16,000 and RM588 respectively.
Customers who wish to perform an eco-friendly funeral service can choose from the various bio-degradable urns displayed at the Xiao En Centre in Jalan Kuari, Cheras.
"The urns can be placed either in the garden or air-conditioned columbariums."
Chuo Siong said his father used to take him to visit countries like the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and the United States to view memorial parks and conducted intensive research for three years before finally opening the Nilai Memorial Park to the public in 1991.
"Having graduated with an economics degree, I had to suddenly learn and accept death to understand my customers' wants and needs. This was an uphill task."
Meanwhile. a Puchong-based funeral director, who wished to remain anonymous, said luxurious coffins were a choice and not a necessity.
"Some people might think the price is exorbitant but there are a few who do not mind going the extra mile in having a lavish permanent containment for their loved ones."
He said the most expensive coffin he had sold was RM27,000, made of stainless steel and imported from the US.
"These requests usually come once in every three years and the majority usually go for coffins priced between RM1,000 and RM2,000, with the cheapest being RM500 and made from plywood."
The former stock broker took over his friend's business which was going into bankruptcy and has been offering funeral services for the past 23 years.
He said the funeral services, among others, included a coffin, body cremation, hearse, body embalming and clothing materials.
He added that over the years, prices had increased between RM300 and RM400.
Kuala Lumpur Funeral Services owner Paramasarathy Naidu, 47, offers funeral services for Hindus, Christians and foreigners.
Having been in the business from the age of 25, the undertaker initially ventured into the business with his brother but soon opened his own company as there was a steady income.
"I received requests to conduct three death ceremonies daily and this prompted me to employ staff for assistance."
He said expensive ceremonies involved coffins made from ashwood that cost around RM18,000 each and luxury funeral coaches made by Benz, BMW and Audi.
Paramasarathy said five years ago, RM2,000 was sufficient for an entire funeral service. But these days, that same amount is the basic payment needed for a simple burial.
He said the business did not interest his children and would probably end with his generation.
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