Hindu cemeteries urged to accept Covid deaths

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2: The Malaysian Indian Funeral Association (MIFA) has urged Hindu cemeteries in the country to allow the community’s Covid deaths to be either buried or cremated in their graveyards.

MIFA president Datuk M. Devman Segar said Hindu cemeteries should not implement indiscriminate policy by not allowing Covid deaths to enter their burial grounds.

He said MIFA had received complaints from the public that certain Hindu cemeteries were imposing unwarranted rules to disallow deceased, who had died due to Covid-19, from being either cremated or buried in their graveyards.

“This is undesirable. Covid deaths are handled by medical officers with utmost care and precautions.

“All preventive measures are being implemented before such funerals were held.

“Except for closest family members, other persons are disallowed to attend such funerals.

“Cemetery managements, burial and crematorium handlers have nothing to fear.

“They should accept Covid deaths,” said Devman.