FAQs

1. Who can pledge for body donation?

  • Malaysian citizen aged 18 and above can pledge for body donation.
  • Malaysian citizen aged below 18 and wish to pledge for body donation required both parents agreement.
  • The Academy For Silent Mentor will not accept:
    1. Death due to infectious diseases by the statutory suffering according to the notification requirement by the Department of Health Disease Control.
    2. Drowning death.
    3. Committed suicide.
    4. Have already undergone post-mortem or organs donation.
    5. Death in Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and foreign country.

2. I already pledged as an Organ Donor. Can I pledge as a Silent Mentor (Body Donor) as well ?

Yes. Organ donation and Body donation are two individual program. We pledge to become either organ donor or body donor or both, but the actual donation will be dependent on the body conditions (age, medical history, physical body condition etc) at the time of DEATH. In other words, we will not be able to decide which program to be adopted when we are still healthy and alive. Body conditions at the end of one life will decide upon which program(s) or both is/are to be adopted, and priority is always given to organ donation for life saving purposes.

3. How to pledge as body donor?

AFSM will arrange a meeting, if feasible, with family members of donor to explain in detail the body donation program. Immediate family members of prospect donor including parents, spouse and children are required to attend the meetings to familiar themselves on the program. Pledge Form will only be executed if family members are agreeable on the pledge proposal by prospect donor. Other than the donor, 2 trustees and 1 witness from immediate family members are required to complete the Pledge Form. Signed Pledge Form with photocopy of IC (donor) is to be couriered to AFSM by Poslaju. The donor will then received a AFSM body donation card to confirm that he or she has officially registered as AFSM body donor.

4. Can foreigner that is permanent resident in Malaysia pledge their body?

Yes. With the requirement that the donor’s immediate family members including parents, spouse and children must agree to it. Other than that, the donor must inform and receive an approval letter from their respective country embassy.

5. If the death occurred, how the body is to be transferred to AFSM?

AFSM will arrange logistic to transfer the body back to the centre within 8 hours of death under AFSM’ own cost. This is inclusive of death occurred in Peninsular except Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak (except Kuching) and Sabah

6. When, who and how to inform AFSM on the death of pledged donor?

Family members can refer to the AFSM body donor card. There are 3 numbers printed on the card, 012-689 8970/ 010- 247 8617/ 03-9131 5523. Please contact either one of the numbers immediately upon death or prior to likely death of donor.

7. Any document required before body is transferred to AFSM?

If the death occurred in hospital, family member will get the burial permit issued by relevant hospital on the spot. If the death occurred in places other than hospital, the logistic personnel engaged by AFSM will help to obtain burial permit from local authority or police station with the production of IC and Medical Report (if death due to critical or chronic illness). Therefore, family member is reminded to keep a copy of medical report of donor with critical or chronic illness at all times before death. This is to ensure that the issuance of burial permit is expedited upon death, and body is transferred back to AFSM within 8 hours of death.

8. Who will apply for the death certificate?

The family members will obtain the death certificate from local National Registration Department.

9. How is the body of donor is being stored in AFSM after their death and for how long?

Upon arrival of body at AFSM within 8 hours of death of donor, the body will be cleansed and stored in a deep-freezing freezer around -30 degrees Celsius in AFSM. The body can be stored for as long as 1 year before it is initiated for surgical simulation program.

10. If religious rites are needed by family member upon death of donors, is there any memorial hall allocated by AFSM for that purpose?

Family members may arrange religious rites at any memorial hall or parlour at their own expense during this period.

11. Will the family members be invited for the surgical simulation program organized by AFSM?

A home visit is scheduled one or two months before the simulation program by students. Family members will be invited for the brief introduction of silent mentor by students a day before the simulation program. Family members will be invited to pay a last respect to their loved one during the initiation ceremony on day one of program. Family members will not be participating in the four-day professional training program.

12. Will the family members be invited for funeral services which will be falls on a Sunday?

Yes. Family members, trainers, students and Tzu-Chi volunteers (if related) will accompany Silent Mentors to complete the final part of their journey before cremation.

13. Will the family members be invited for the surgical simulation program organized by AFSM?

A home visit is scheduled two months before the simulation program by students. Family members will be invited for the brief introduction of silent mentor by students a day before the simulation program. Family members will be invited to pay a last respect to their loved one during the initiation ceremony on day one of program. Family members will not be participating in the four to five days professional training program.

14. Does family member need to bear any cost associated with this Silent Mentor Program?

Family member needs to bear the cost of religious rites arranged by them for Silent Mentor. No religious rites covered under the AFSM Silent Mentor Training Program. Besides, the ashes of Silent Mentor kept in an urn provided by Xiao-En Group will be given to family member one day after the cremation. The program is considered ended at the time of hand over of ashes of Silent Mentor to family member. Any cost incurred beyond this point will be borne by family member

15. What are the other items sponsored by AFSM/Xiao-En Group under this program?

Saved from the above, Xiao-En Group will sponsor the coffin use for cremation of Silent Mentor and hearse. Meals will be provided by AFSM/Xiao-En Memorial Park to family members upon their arrival in AFSM/Xiao-En Memorial Park before and after the professional training program. Accommodation will be provided to family members one day before the training program and one day on the last day of the training program, if the Silent Mentor was previously originated from states other than Kuala Lumpur & Selangor. The quantum of accommodation will be agreed upon between AFSM and family members on a case by case basis.

16. If family members wish to spread the ashes of silent mentor after cremation into the sea, can AFSM provide such services?

Yes. AFSM will arrange to have all these ashes of Silent Mentor spread into Straits of Melaka at Port Klang under AFSM’ own expense. The services will include unclaimed ashes for more than 3 months.