RESIDENTS of Hulu Langat under an enhanced movement-control order have complained of a spotty supply of groceries from the authorities provisioning them during their confinement at home.

While they are given items, such as rice, sardines and flour, they haven’t been provided with basic items, such as oil, said Kg Batu 21, 22, 23, and 24 head Mohd Razak Jamaluddin.

Razak said the residents have received two food deliveries from the Social Welfare Department since the start of the EMCO on March 30 following an outbreak of Covid-19 in the community.

“It’s not that we are not getting supplies. It’s just that the items are inconsistent and the things we are given are not useful to us,” Razak told The Malaysian Insight.

“For example, they give rice, sardines, flour but not cooking oil, onions and chillies. How are we to cook?”

Welfare and civil society groups have contributed some groceries but these are not enough for the many households in lockdown.

The villagers have so far remained calm in the face of tight rations and isolation but Razak said he did not know how long this stoicism will last.

The EMCO was issued on March 30 for Batu 21 to 24 in Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat, after 71 pupils in the local tahfiz were infected with the virus.

Two Orang Asli and five Malay villages with a total of 3,918 residents are under lockdown.

Unlike the MCO in effect in the rest of the country, which allows people to go to the shops for food and essentials, the enhanced shutdown in areas, such as Hulu Langat, prohibits residents from leaving their homes at all.

Groceries and other basic items are provided by welfare officials.

The authorities are expected to announce today whether they will extend the EMCO for Hulu Langat, which expires tomorrow.

A Sg Lui resident Nurul Asyikin Yodin said even though food is supplied, there is not enough of it to go around.

“Basic food exists, but it’s not enough. Some people lack cooking oil, some lack eggs and onions,” she said.

“There are other groups that provide help but not all of us will get it. We give priority to the families most in need.”

Nurul said villagers were shocked when an elderly resident recently tested positive for Covid-19.

“We only found out about it last week when the residents were tested. We are shocked.”

Distribution problem

Dusun Tua assemblyman Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof wants government agencies to improve the distribution of food to the villagers.

He said civil society groups have also donated food but slow reaching the residents.

“There are groups that deliver food but all contributions must be kept in a central operations room. Those sending in food are also unclear about how it is being distributed.

“There are many donations but they don’t reach the residents. People know the food is there but they are not receiving it.” he said, adding that he brought chicken and eggs for the residents.

“I hope the government will be more efficient in its distribution,” he said.

The MCO was put in place to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which is now pandemic.

Malaysia reported 4,683 cases of infection with 76 deaths.

Total recovered patients stands at 2,108, or 45% of the infected. The fatality rate is 1.62%. – April 13, 2020.