THE majority of residents in PJ Old Town, which has been placed under lockdown, have received their food baskets, said Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah.

The first round of food distribution was completed yesterday with the help from the Social Welfare Department, she told The Malaysian Insight.

“We covered all sections affected under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO).

“We worked very closely with the department and the distribution was effectively carried out,” she said.

A second round of food distribution may take place sometime at the end of May.

Her officers have created a WhatsApp group for the residents in the affected areas to lodge any complaint for the rest of the EMCO period until May 23.

“We are communicating via WhatsApp. Any suggestions or complaints can be conveyed through the medium. They can also make requests if they need anything important.”

The EMCO for the area, affecting 2,900 residents, was announced yesterday. 

Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the lockdown was ordered on the advice of the health minister, following the detection of 26 Covid-19 cases in the area.

On May 1, it was reported that the Jalan Othman market in PJ Old Town was closed pending virus screening of all who were there from April 5 to 18.

Meanwhile, when asked if there were complaints from residents affected, Maria said the situation was not as serious as experienced by residents in Selayang, which had also been under EMCO.

“Yes there are (complaints), mostly regarding old folks who are home on their own with no kitchen to cook and also locals who can’t get into the area because they were not home when the order was issued.”

“Discussions are ongoing as we try to solve the problems,” she added. – May 11, 2020.