KUALA LUMPUR: Helicopter crash victims' next-of-kin are bound by Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), and the body identification process has to be put on hold until the Covid-19 test result is known.
Dr Mohd Izani Mohamed Rawi, who is the eldest brother of victim Mohd Irfan Fikri, said they could only watch the zipped body bag containing his brother's remains being taken to the forensic room for post-mortem.
The victims' families were present at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre's mortuary at about 4.40pm.
He said the family had been told to wait for the results of the Covid-19 test on both the deceased before post-mortem or any other procedures could proceed.
"(My late brother) is in the (body) bag. No one is allowed to see him.
"When the Covid-19 test result is received, only then can the post-mortem or other processes be carried out. If the test comes back positive, the Health Ministry will immediately take the body.
"The soonest will be tomorrow (Monday) for the test results to be known. We will wait for them (the hospital) to contact us," he told reporters here.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Izani said his brother's wife was too distraught to respond to questions from the media.
