SELANGOR Mansion and Malayan Mansion residents sealed into their homes under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) said they have not received any food from the authorities.

The residents, who are foreigners mostly from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, told The Malaysian Insight the EMCO was sprung on them suddenly yesterday, leaving them with no time to stock up on food and other essential items.

Tajuddin Farook, a Selangor Mansion resident of six years, said several dwellers struggled to find food yesterday and that a restaurant that got to know of the situation provided dinner for some residents at both flats.

“The lockdown took place in the early hours, I think around 2am. So, that was unexpected and we were not informed of it. We got to know when we were leaving for work in the morning.

“Some of us didn’t have anything for breakfast and lunch. Luckily, Restaurant ABC got to know of the issue and provided dinner for the residents here and in Malayan Mansion” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Tajuddin, a Malaysian who works as a driver for a stationery shop, said Restaurant ABC and Sangeetha, a vegetarian outlet of the Kopatha Group, provided breakfast today and residents were informed that lunch will be provided.

He said one person from each unit was told to come and collect the food given by the restaurants.

Putrajaya imposed the EMCO on the two residential buildings on Jalan Masjid India in the heart of the capital yesterday after 15 Covid-19 cases were detected.

Syeikh Abdul Kader, 46, an Indian national who works in a jewellery shop, said residents were not prepared for the EMCO as it was imposed suddenly.

He said his co-workers who stayed elsewhere helped with breakfast and lunch yesterday, while not everyone was lucky to get dinner from the restaurant that gave free food.

“Some of my colleagues helped us with breakfast and lunch. As for dinner, not everyone received the food from Restaurant ABC because there are many of us. On average, every unit has about 10 people.

“Some of us got by with just tea and biscuits, and we shared with others,” he said, adding that the Indians in the flats have not been contacted by the high commission.

Alauddin, a Malayan Mansion resident, said although the move by the government is good to curb the spread of Covid-19, he said that residents should have been informed earlier to get themselves prepared.

He said besides health, food was their main concern throughout the EMCO.

He said he has not seen any government official deliver food to residents.

“When the government made such a move, they should have prepared basic necessities for us.

“As of now, I’ve not seen any people from the government helping us. The restaurants are helping us with food but not all are getting it.

“Some of us split one meal to three or four portions, so that others can eat, too,” Alauddin, who works in a bookshop, told The Malaysian Insight.

There are 160 units per block, with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people residing at both blocks.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said the governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been informed that their citizens are under lockdown at the flats. 

The EMCO on Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion is the fourth such order issued since the movement control order began on March 18.

The first order was on two areas in Simpang Renggam, Johor, on March 27. The second was on Sungai Lui in Selangor on March 30 and the third was on Menara City One in Kuala Lumpur on March 31. 

Under those orders, the government said it will provide basic supplies, while all residents were confined to their homes as health authorities tracked down Covid-19 infections in the communities. – April 8, 2020.