HOURS after his death, the body of Malaysia’s first Covid-19 fatality was taken straight from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) to Kuching’s Nirvana Memorial Park for cremation.

David Cheng, a pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Taman Hui Sing, tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday. He died at 11am yesterday.

He was reportedly warded in the intensive care unit for breathing difficulties.

It is unclear if any family members were present for the cremation, and whether the ashes of the 60-year-old father of three were buried at the park.

Cheng’s widow and 21-year-old daughter, who contracted the virus from him, are in quarantine at the hospital.

Charles Admund, a friend of the pastor, shared a photo with The Malaysian Insight of Cheng’s coffin being wheeled out of SGH by medical personnel in protective suits.

He said he was surprised at the speed of the burial, and that Cheng’s eldest son, who is also a pastor, will decide when to hold a memorial service later.

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, confirming Cheng’s death, said the state Health Department is still working to identify the source of his infection.

It said 193 people who had come into contact with him have been traced and are undergoing quarantine.

Among them are state Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Abdul Karim Hamzah and Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, who were at a school reunion attended by Cheng.

Karim is in isolation at home, while Yii, who has been confirmed infected, is in quarantine at SGH.

State Housing and Local Government Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is keeping a watching brief on health matters for the Sarawak cabinet, told reporters after a state Security Council meeting last night that health authorities have yet to determine Cheng’s source of infection.

“The pastor’s cluster, we’re still unsure of the origin. We suspect that it was an imported case from the peninsula.”

Apart from his family members, Cheng also reportedly infected two men.

Under the Health Department’s Covid-19 safety protocol, wakes or church services for coronavirus victims cannot be held.

State health director Dr Chin Zin Hing said the bodies of Covid-19 patients must be sealed in two body bags and taken directly to the burial ground.

“Disinfection and supervision at every step. Disinfection of the coffin… the hearse will also (have to) undergo disinfection after that.”

He said the coffin must be handled only by health personnel in protective suits. – March 18, 2020.