Guard against rising costs of dying

I AM disturbed by the growth of upmarket after-death service providers ("Carving a niche in after-death services"; last Monday).

Average Singaporeans are already struggling with rising costs of living.

As profit-minded young locals and foreigners enter the lucrative after-death market, many Singaporeans will soon have to deal with rising costs of dying.

With the increasing number of new players charging exorbitant prices, will there be enough government columbaria and will their charges remain affordable?

Can land-scarce Singapore afford the space to cope with the extravagance of the wealthy dead?

What is the rationale for admitting even more foreign players to profit from our dead?

I agree with Mr Larry Han, operations manager of the Christian Garden of Remembrance, who said that the business is not about profits but about providing a dignified way for the bereaved to respect their dead.

This should be the reason for providing such services.

Lim Siat Foong (Ms)

This article was first published on Feb 02, 2015.
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