How Covid-19 has changed the face of death
From the dimensions of graves to the number of people allowed at burial sites, even the experience of death has been affected by the global pandemic.
For over a decade, Mohamad Faisal Johan and his colleague Abang Biku Abang Kadir have been managing death for Muslims at a cemetery in Kuching, Sarawak.
Duties are divided between the two of them: Abang Biku manages the funeral rituals while Faisal handles the preparation of grave sites.
Aside from digging the graves, they are also responsible for cleaning them, mowing the lawn, and maintaining the general condition of the Semariang Muslim Cemetery.
“All works are carried out once we receive the death report from family members,” Abang Biku told MalaysiaNow.
On a normal day, he estimates that the team digs about eight graves. “But there are days when we have to dig 10 graves and days when we dig none at all, simply because there are no deaths,” he added.
“I am thankful because most of our family members were able to follow his last journey to the grave, although it was not like a normal funeral where your friends are allowed to attend,” the mother-of-five told MalaysiaNow.
“But that sense of loss is irreplaceable,” she added.
Faisal and Abang Biku are familiar with scenes of grief but they agree that SOPs make things much more difficult.
“It’s hard to let go, knowing that you are unable to bury your family members and have to say your final good-byes from afar,” they said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
It also makes their job much harder, as they have to ensure that everyone present abides by the SOPs.
“But we have to stay focused so that we can complete the task. We understand that it’s difficult for them. But even if it’s a difficult thing to do, we will tell them respectfully.
“We hope they can bear with us. We all have our roles to play in fighting this war against Covid-19.”
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