MERSING, Sept 18 (Bernama) – A haunting image of a body being transported to a cemetery on a palm oil truck in Endau, near here, became the turning point for one man to act.
That moment drove 34-year-old Muhammad Syahrul Nizam Zainal to provide a free funeral van service across Peninsular Malaysia.
In 2019, together with several friends, he raised funds to purchase a used van worth RM10,500 and converted it into a hearse for the local community.
“Even without institutional support or fixed funding, we worked to collect donations so that funeral arrangements could be carried out with dignity,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
A year later, he founded the Mersing Care Association – better known as Team Prihatin Mersing – a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) in 2020. The group not only expanded funeral services but also supported frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This team was established after I stepped down as imam of Bandar Endau Mosque. At the time, a registered NGO was urgently needed as our movement to support frontliners kept increasing,” he said.
What began with personal funds soon grew into a larger effort. “In the early days, finances were a real challenge. But after several cases, some families came forward to help,” he added. Today, the association owns seven funeral vans.
Since 2019, the group has assisted 1,758 individuals – ranging from managing funerals and preparing the deceased for burial to aiding bedridden patients. They also provide transportation for the remains of foreign nationals to airports for repatriation.
The third of six siblings, Syahrul Nizam describes his work as a full-time calling, “waqf-ing” himself to society, and upholding the Islamic duty of fardu kifayah through the provision of free funeral van services.
His selfless contribution earned him recognition as the 2023 Mersing District Maal Hijrah Youth Icon. But to him, patriotism extends beyond waving the Jalur Gemilang or sacrifices on the battlefield. It is also about service to the community.
“Volunteering has taught me the meaning of sacrifice, humanity, and nationhood. If we don’t instil these values now, the continuity of community movements will be lost. Every sincere effort carries its own blessings, especially for those in need,” he said.
Among his most unforgettable experiences was in 2022, when he joined the search for a missing man whose body was eventually found in a car in Pekan, Pahang – nearly 10 months later. For Syahrul Nizam, it was a reminder of a mother’s endless love, hope, and prayers.
“That experience deeply affected me. It wasn’t just about handling the deceased, but about understanding humanity, empathy, and responsibility,” he reflected.
– BERNAMA