IPOH: About 70 funeral workers here have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine following calls from their association to do so.

       Perak Non-Muslim Funeral Industry Welfare Association chairman Ng Chuen Wai said all the workers got their first jab on Wednesday (Aug 11).

       "Some of us, including myself, got the jab earlier after getting a notification from the MySejahtera app.

       "A majority of the workers got the first dose thanks to Perak Youth Assembly Malim Nawar representative Wong Chin Ho and the state Health director," he said when contacted.

       Ng had last month appealed to the health authorities to vaccinate them as soon as possible due to the nature of their work, which involved risks of physical contact with bodies of the deceased who may unwittingly have the coronavirus on them.

       Wong, who is also Perak MCA executive secretary, had assisted the association to expedite their vaccination.

       In thanking the state Health Department, Wong said he believed that the move would reduce the risks of the funeral workers getting infected.

       "It was a special consideration by the state Health Department.

       "By vaccinating the funeral workers, it will also reduce the risks of the virus spreading to other people," he said.

       Wong said he had received plenty of calls or messages from various industries asking him to assist them as well.

       "As long as the requests are reasonable, I will do my best to help.

       "For some who just simply want to jump the queue, I will politely explain and decline," he said.

       "I hope the National Security Council will also consider those in the funeral services industry as frontliners as well," he added.