There is a noteworthy item in The Star today about more young Malaysians buying burial plots and columbarium niches as a form of investment. What used to be a taboo subject is no longer off-limits in this modern age, especially among the more progressive Chinese.
The trend to buy burial plots in up-market cemetery locations has caused the value of these cemetary lots and niches to rise. According to the newspaper article, prices almost doubled within a year for those plots in prime locations.
NV Multi Corporation Berhad general manager Au Kok Huei was quoted as saying that 600 prime double burial plots in Semenyih were bought for RM21,800 each last year and today, these 216sq ft plots are worth about RM42,800 each.
“Burial plots are no different from landed property. They appreciate because prime land is scarce. We have plots costing between a few thousand ringgit to millions depending on the client’s budget,” he said.
Interestingly, the people who buy burial plots fall into three categories: investment, planning for their future, and belief in good feng shui that can result from having a tomb built even before their death.
Au said that some clients invest in plots for their future generations because of the good feng shui of the land. “Our clients used to comprise those above the age of 40 but now, our average clients are in their mid-30s.”
NV Multi Corporation Berhad manages the Nirvana Memorial Parks around the country.
there’s also burial plots for pets now. i wonder how the sales are doing for those plots!