The Malaysian Insight

THOSE in the business of death and funerals want priority for Covid-19 vaccination as the number of virus fatalities continues to surge.

The funeral services sector is being overwhelmed by the demand with one company processing 53 burials of Covid-19 patients in just 23 days.

Nirvana Care Sdn Bhd said the period from May 1 to May 23 had the highest record. For January to March, they handled a total of 55 cases, which was also a spike from the total of 12 cases from March to December last year.

Pertubuhan Istiadat Pengebumian Orang Ramai Malaysia president Kong Thian Hau told The Malaysian Insight that the funeral servies industry could be considered a high-risk group.

“Although the funeral industry is not frontliners according to the government’s definition, we are still close contacts to Covid-19 deceased.

“As a high-risk industry, 95% of us have yet to be vaccinated and are not part of the priority group for vaccination.

“We can only register through the MySejahtera app in accordance with the general procedure and wait for notifications on the vaccination.”

He added that the average age of employees in the funeral services industry was 40 years old.

“Coronavirus infection is now affecting the younger demographics and any age group is at risk of infection. We urge the government to give us vaccinations as soon as possible.

“We also ask for assistance in all aspects of the funeral industry, such as approving the disinfectant solutions and giving tax exemption for epidemic prevention equipment.”

He said the industry was already facing immense pressure with insufficient manpower and burdened with various safety factors.

Nirvana Care’s sales and service general manager Teh Khai Lin said 97% of the cases undertaken by the company were deceased people aged over 50.

He was worried that with the number of cases continuing to skyrocket, even younger people would succumb to the virus.

“Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had also said most patients are asymptomatic. Once the pandemic worsens, curbs will be ineffective.”

He added that the current situation was upsetting and traumatic for many.

“At this time, if the family wants to say goodbye to their loved ones, it is completely impossible.

“From the time the patient is admitted to the hospital for treatment, and if the patient is admitted to the intensive care unit, the family members are not allowed to visit and can only rely on medical staff to make video calls.

“After the unfortunate death of the patient, even the morgue is restricted to one person only. There is no way for other family members to see their loved ones for the last time.”

Ten & Ten Funeral Services owner Ng Lie Cheng said the government cremation sites in Cheras and Petaling Jaya were now unable to meet the demand.

“The Cheras crematorium has seven cremation furnaces while the one in Petaling Jaya has only two.

“Every day, there are general and Covid-19 remains lined up for cremation.

“If they are packed, we will first ask the private cremation sites but not every cremation site is open to receive Covid-19 remains.”

She said they have to coordinate with Health Ministry (MOH) officials for a delay of a day or two in collecting the remains when cremation sites are full.

Yesterday, 60 people succumbed to the coronavirus. On Monday, the number of deaths in a single day reached a new high with 61 deaths.

The number of Covid-19 deaths nationwide has reached 2,369. – May 26, 2021.