What to Do When Someone Dies in Malaysia: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain Official Medical Certification of Death

   • Hospital Deaths: When your family member dies in a public or private hospital operating under the regulatory framework of the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia - KKM), the attending medical officer certifies the clinical cause of death and issues the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form JPN.LM02 or hospital death confirmation) along with the official Burial Permit (Permit Menguburkan) [4] [6].
   • Deaths at Home from Natural Causes: If the death occurs at a private residence in Malaysia, the family must immediately notify the nearest police station (Royal Malaysia Police - Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM). A police officer visits the residence to inspect the circumstances. Where the deceased had documented chronic illness and no foul play is suspected, the police issue a Death Report (Laporan Polis / Permit Menguburkan) allowing registration and burial without a post-mortem [1] [4].
   • Unexpected, Accidental, or Unattended Deaths: Where the cause of death is unknown, sudden, unnatural, or unattended by a physician, the police transport the body to the Forensic Medicine Department (Jabatan Perubatan Forensik) of a government hospital under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia - KKM) for a magistrate-ordered or police-ordered post-mortem examination (bedah siasat) before releasing the body and issuing the burial permit [4] [6].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Civil Registry (JPN)

   • Competent Registration Authority and Regional Deadlines: Civil registration of deaths is administered by the National Registration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara - JPN) [1]. Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299) applicable in Peninsular Malaysia, a death must be registered within 7 days from the date of death (late registration between 8 and 14 days incurs a small administrative fee, while registration after 14 days requires a delayed registration inquiry) [1]. In Sabah (Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance Cap. 123), deaths should be reported within 24 hours, and in Sarawak (Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance Cap. 10), within 14 days [1].
   • Required Documentation and MyKad Cancellation: A qualified informant (surviving spouse, adult relative, person present at death, or authorized funeral representative) must present the hospital Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or Police Death Report, the original Burial Permit, the deceased person's Malaysian identity card (MyKad) or passport (for foreign nationals), and the informant's identity card at any branch of the National Registration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara - JPN) [1].
   • Issuance of the Death Certificate: Upon verification, the registrar cancels the deceased person's MyKad and issues the official Death Certificate (Sijil Kematian, Form JPN.LM02) [1].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Domestic Burial and Cremation: A licensed funeral service provider (pengurus jenazah or bereavement care provider) arranges interment at a municipal, religious, or memorial cemetery, or cremation at a municipal or private crematorium upon presenting the Burial Permit and the Death Certificate issued by the National Registration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara - JPN) [1] [4]. For Muslim decedents, Islamic funeral rites (pengurusan jenazah) and burial are typically completed within 24 hours in coordination with the state Islamic religious department or local mosque once the hospital or police burial permit is issued [1] [4].
   • International Repatriation and Consular Legalization: If the deceased was a foreign citizen or if the remains or cremated ashes must be repatriated abroad, the funeral director must obtain an Export Permit for a Human Corpse from the Port Health Office under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia - KKM), supported by an official embalming certificate, an infectious-disease-free certificate, a hermetically sealed zinc-lined coffin certificate, and customs air waybill clearance [4] [6]. Because Malaysia is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, Malaysian Death Certificates used abroad must be certified by the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) in Putrajaya and legalized by the destination country's embassy or high commission in Kuala Lumpur [1].
4. 4

   Notify Provident Fund, Social Security, Tax, and Banking Authorities

   • Employees Provident Fund (EPF / KWSP) Death Withdrawal: If the deceased was a member of the Employees Provident Fund (Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja - KWSP / EPF), the nominated beneficiary (penama) or legal next-of-kin may claim the full retirement account balance plus a compassionate Death Benefit (Bantuan Kematian of RM 2,500 for eligible members who die before age 60 within the statutory filing window) [5].
   • Social Security Organization (PERKESO / SOCSO) and Public Pensions (KWAP): Where the deceased was an insured private-sector employee under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969, eligible survivors may claim the Funeral Management Benefit (Faedah Pengurusan Mayat up to RM 3,000) and a monthly Survivors' Pension (Pencen Penakat) or Dependants' Benefit (Faedah Orang Tanggungan) through PERKESO (SOCSO) [5]. For federal civil servants or government pensioners, derivative pension and funeral assistance claims are submitted to the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) [5].
   • Tax Clearance (LHDN) and Bank Accounts: Malaysia does not levy an inheritance tax or estate duty on deaths occurring on or after 1 November 1991. However, the legal representative must notify the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia - LHDN) to file the deceased person's final income tax return up to the date of death and settle any accrued income tax or Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) liabilities [3]. Individual bank accounts held solely in the deceased person's name are frozen upon death notification until a valid nominee payout instruction or probate instrument is presented [2].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate, Succession, and Probate

   • Four Distinct Probate and Administration Pathways: Under the Probate and Administration Act 1959 and the Small Estates (Distribution) Act 1955 (as amended), the competent forum depends on the value and composition of the estate [2]:

   1. Civil High Court (Mahkamah Tinggi): Overseen administratively by the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia, the High Court has jurisdiction to grant a Grant of Probate (Geran Probet) where the deceased left a valid Will naming an executor, or Letters of Administration (Surat Kuasa Mentadbir) where the deceased died intestate leaving an estate exceeding the small-estate statutory threshold [2]. 2. Small Estate Distribution Office (Bahagian Pusaka Kecil - JKPTG): Under the Small Estates (Distribution) (Amendment) Act, if the deceased died intestate (without a will) leaving an estate with a total value not exceeding RM 5,000,000 (comprising immovable and/or movable property), heirs may apply directly to the Small Estate Distribution Division under the Department of Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG) without hiring a court advocate. 3. Amanah Raya Berhad (Public Trustee): If the estate consists solely of movable property (such as cash, bank accounts, vehicles, or shares) valued at not more than RM 600,000, the public trustee corporation Amanah Raya Berhad can issue a Summary Administration Declaration or Direction [2]. 4. Syariah Court (Faraid Certificate for Muslim Estates): For Muslim decedents, while the administrative grant (Probate, Letters of Administration, or Small Estate Order) is issued by the civil High Court, JKPTG, or Amanah Raya, the substantive distribution shares among heirs are governed by Islamic inheritance law (Hukum Faraid) certified via a Sijil Faraid issued by the state Syariah Court [2]. For non-Muslim intestate estates in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, statutory shares are governed by the Distribution Act 1958 (in Sabah, the Intestate Succession Ordinance 1960) [2].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Official Portal - Death Registration and Civil Registry Services — National Registration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara - JPN)
2. [2]
   Malaysian Judiciary Portal - High Court Probate and Letters of Administration Procedures — Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia
3. [3]
   Official Portal - Deceased Taxpayer Final Assessment and Stamp Duty Procedures — Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia - LHDN)
4. [4]
   Official Portal - Public Hospital, Forensic Medicine, and Port Health Services — Ministry of Health Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia - KKM)
5. [5]
   Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific - Malaysia (EPF / KWSP and PERKESO / SOCSO) — U.S. Social Security Administration / International Social Security Association
6. [6]
   Malaysia Health System and Public Health Governance Profile — World Health Organization (WHO)