Permatang pauh: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) is in the process of refining funeral management guidelines to establish a uniform reference throughout the country. This move comes in response to a recent incident that gained widespread attention on social media.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Zulkifli Hasan stated that the initiative considers current requirements and aligns with state-specific laws and enactments. He acknowledged that while several states have existing guidelines, JAKIM aims to enhance these to create a more comprehensive framework. The guidelines are being finalised to ensure they can be adopted by states lacking their own protocols, with improvements planned for existing ones.

Dr. Zulkifli assured that the completion of these guidelines will be expedited, with a focus on adhering to state laws. He emphasised that the foundational guidelines are already in place and require only minor adjustments for finalisation.

Addressing the specific viral incident concerning funeral management in Selangor, Dr. Zulkifli noted that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) have been entrusted with resolving the matter. He called for calm and collaboration among all parties to address the issue amicably and avoid division.

In response to the incident, MAIS had previously initiated an emergency meeting involving the deceased's next of kin, Masjid Nurul Hidayah's management, the Badan Kebajikan Salatulrahim (BKS), and JAIS. The objective was to resolve allegations regarding a burial delay at the Ukay Perdana Muslim Cemetery in Hulu Kelang, with the aim of preventing future occurrences. MAIS Chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin highlighted the importance of finding a mutually agreeable solution to avert similar situations moving forward.