Singapore’s Funeral Parlours Tighten Up After a Shocking Mix‑Up
Imagine you’re visiting a funeral home and the staff accidentally sends the wrong body to the crematorium – that’s what happened last December, and it’s reshaping how Singapore’s licensed funeral parlours operate.
What Went Wrong?
- On December 30th, Harmony Funeral Care accidentally collected the body of 82‑year‑old Kee Kin Tiong instead of a 70‑year‑old man from Century Products’ embalming room.
- Ms Kee’s body was cremated before a proper send‑off could happen, leaving the family in “great pain” and calling for stricter standards.
- Century Products’ license was suspended, and Harmony was barred from using government after‑death facilities.
NEA’s Short‑Term Shake‑Up
The National Environment Agency (NEA) rolled out a new set of rules via a circular sent Friday, Jan 10 to 22 licensed funeral parlours.
Key Mandates
- Lock embalming rooms at all times – only authorised staff can enter.
- Attach a personalised tag to every body that shows the name, gender, and funeral company.
- Maintain a register of all embalmers, including nationality, local experience, and infection‑control training.
- Implement a tracking system that logs when each body enters and exits the facility.
Operators have two days to set up the tagging system and two weeks to share the details with NEA.
Why These Rules Matter
“Shown the need to strengthen procedures,” said NEA’s Director‑General of Public Health, Chew Ming Fai. “We can’t afford a mix‑up when families are already grieving.
Besides, the new rules force parlours to employ only competent embalmers and keep a detailed record, ensuring satisfaction and safety.
Industry Response
- Ang Chin Moh Funeral Directors – Deputy Chairman Mr Ang Ziqian: “We’ve been tagging bodies for years. It protects the bereaved and honors the departed.”
- Singapore Casket (Simplicity Casket) – Sales & Marketing Manager Mr Jeffrey Lee: “Tagging is a simple way to avoid the wrong body. We also record all movements and staff actions.”
- Trinity Casket – Managing Director Freddie Choo: “We’ve kept a meticulous file for every case for 30 years. Each loved one deserves utmost dignity.”
Looking Ahead
With these tighter standards, the hope is that funeral parlours will operate like a well‑organised team—every body gets the respect it deserves, and families can trust the process.
For more detail, check the original Straits Times article (use hard copy due to reproduction rights).
