KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Sin Chew Daily) — As the number of COVID-19 deaths rises, cremations may take three to seven days of waiting in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Nirvana Care general manager (Sales and Service) Teh Khai Lin said there are 12 cremators with 34 cremation furnaces in Klang Valley.

In an e-mail reply to Sin Chew Daily, he said the cremators are unable to cope with the rising number of cremations due to increased COVID-19 deaths.

"Before the pandemic, cremation only requires booking made by phone call one day in advance. Now cremation will need to be put on hold for three to seven days in Klang Valley.ay to resolve the issue. We are unable to build a new cremator immed

"Apart from waiting, there is no other wiately," he said.

The remains are kept at the funeral parkour or mortuary while waiting for the availability of a cremator.

Teh said undertakers may have to arrange for cremations to be carried out in another state if the cremators in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are unable to cope.

"For example, cremation can be carried out in Ipoh or Seremban. But this is not a very practical approach," he admitted. 

Teh said it would be a hassle for family to apply permit for interstate travel. 

He said the cremators would resume normal operations only through mass vaccination to lower the number of deaths.

"I hope we do not end up like India where the remains are burned in open space," he said.