The problem of the Muslim foreigner’s corpse which are not claimed in Miri Hospital mortuary for weeks or months should be managed immediately by the Miri hospital and Islamic Religious Department if there is no heirs come to claim. Problem of unclaimed bodies are usually happens to foreigners working in Miri, the death is due to an accident or killed and so on. Among other reasons is the deceased had no complete identification documents and the family of the deceased difficult to reach.
This had happened a few years ago but this problem had been solved because there is a generous local people to manage the unclaimed corpse. If there is still such cases happens, the hospital should immediately notify the local authorities and the Islamic Religious Department for funeral arrangements if no next of kin of the deceased come to claim.
Similarly, the problems of Muslims from outside the district of Miri who died in Miri that is not the residents of Miri had to wait for too long process of hearse delivery to the home of the deceased that is far away from the Miri. Deceased’s family had to wait for the doctor and the hospital authorities signed a letter and so on before the victim’s body are allowed to be brought out by the family of the deceased.
Problems arise when the poor family of the deceased had to come from far away by road and take time to get to Miri before being able to claim the body such as the case happens to an accident victim who died in Miri last Saturday. An elderly mother who had to wait a few days to bring his son body out from Miri.
This was exposed by someone to us who do not want to be named. It said the hospital authorities taking too long to manage the remains of accident victims until take a few days then the remains can be sent back to his home town in Pusak, Saribas in the southern part of Sarawak. Travel to Pusak by road takes about a 7 hour drive from Miri.
If the family of the deceased is not capable of managing these bodies, the hospital or other party concern may send the bodies directly to his village by road or if need be buried only in the Muslim cemetery in Miri.
Similarly, the problem of limited morgue in Miri hospital should be given due attention by the hospital authorities in case of an accident resulting of foreigners or outsiders who were killed, it will be difficult for hospital authorities to put the bodies while waiting for the family or their next of kin come to claim.
We urge the Ministry of Health and the hospital Miri takes such matters seriously by giving a special provision in the management of victims of fatal accidents or killed that had to be kept in the morgue for too long. For the family of the deceased that is less fortunate, especially for Muslims and also other races, burial should be done immediately in accordance with their religious beliefs. Hope this gets the attention and appropriate action from the relevant authorities.
