ADUN SPEAKS | The government must be fair and even-handed when it comes to the burial or cremation of those who die of Covid-19 infections.

While there are many agencies aided by the government that provide free funeral services for Muslims, however, this is not the case with non-Muslims in the country.

Non-Muslims have to pay high costs of funeral services whether they are Christians, Buddhists, or Hindus.

I understand that with the rise in deaths due to the pandemic, funeral costs have escalated beyond the financial capacity of families, particularly those in the B40 group.

The present circumstances are extraordinary that require extraordinary efforts on the part of the government and its agencies to play a significant role.

I suggest that the government, in easing the financial burden of non-Muslims, identifies funeral homes or undertakers in different religious communities with the aim of assisting them.

The government, by agreeing to financially offset the funeral charges related to Covid-19 deaths, is helping, to some extent, to relieve the burden experienced by B40 families.

All the government had to do is very simple: ask the respective religious communities through their representatives to provide a list of funeral homes or undertakers.

Once the selection is done through consultation, then an announcement could be made in public as to the funeral homes or undertakers that can provide free services for the dead.

Such assistance must be strictly given to those who died of Covid-19 infections, and not from other causes.

The Health Ministry can coordinate such efforts by ensuring that government assistance goes to the needy.

The government should be aware of some religious organisations that have to come to the fore to suggest that the government’s financial funeral assistance should be channelled through them. These few organisations can be weeded out by some due diligence.

The pandemic has given us a look into how to assist the people of this country under the tragic conditions of the pandemic. The pandemic affects all, irrespective of race or religion.

Similarly, government efforts to fight the pandemic must be based on the need to assist all communities irrespective of their racial or religious affiliation.

Under normal circumstances, the non-Muslim communities were able to manage the expenses of their dead.

With the onset of the pandemic, with mounting deaths, the government must step in to assist.

It is strange but true that the government can learn important lessons under the conditions of the present pandemic.

While the Covid-19 infections know no racial or religious barriers, the government must adopt a similar approach to fight the pandemic.

P RAMASAMY is Penang deputy chief minister II and Perai assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.