RESIDENTS in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur find their movements being more restricted than promised during the semi-enhanced movement control order (Semco) due to a cluster of Covid-19 infections.

Initially, they were told that they can still move in and out of the area with valid reasons.

As a result, getting foodstuff has become a problem, and they are appealing to the government for help.

Those living in the upper floors of shop lots in Jalan Pudu and Jalan Landak have found themselves fenced in by razor wire and are not allowed to leave the cordoned area to buy food or go to the nearest bank.

A resident who gave his name as Ah Keong, said this contradicted what the authorities said after the Semco was first imposed at midnight on May 15.

Ah Keong, who has lived here for more than 30 years, said the residents are facing shortage of food.

Some civil society groups have been distributing precooked meals and food supplies, but it is only enough for two meals per day, he said.

“It’s just for lunch and dinner only. At times, the quantity is not sufficient.

“Can the government do something about this and send us more food? 

“Some of the residents here are elderly, like me,” the 75-year-old told The Malaysian Insight.

The areas under Semco are around the Pudu market, including Jalan Pudu, Jalan Kancil, Jalan Pasar, Jalan Landak, Lorong Brunei 2 and Lorong Brunei 3.

The decision to put these areas under Semco came after 30 Covid-19 cases, all of them involving foreign workers.

Another resident, who only wanted to be known as Johnson, said the Semco was imposed without notice, leaving him no time to plan or make preparation to get more canned food.

Because the 45-year-old lives in in a rented room, he depends on takeaways.

“Suddenly around midnight, the police and army came and put up these wires and blocked the area.

“If they had informed residents earlier, I would have tried to stock up some canned food. I can’t cook in the place I rent because it is only a room.”

He hasn’t been able to go out to buy food or even to walk to the bank to withdraw money, because police and soldiers patrolling the cordoned areas do not allow people to go out.

Without money, he cannot get food delivered.

“Earlier they said we can go out if we have valid reasons but now we can’t go out at all.

“The authorities are not allowing us to go out to buy food or get money. Aren’t these valid reasons?”

Johnson also runs a noodle stall but has had to close it down as he could not get supplies delivered to him because of the stall is in the cordoned area.

When announcing Pudu’s Semco status last week, senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Pudu wet market and its surrounding areas were not under a total lockdown, and that residents were allowed to move around with valid reasons.

The Semco is meant for the authorities to test residents and foreign workers for Covid-19.

On a visit to the area, The Malaysian Insight found that only a number of eateries inside the area were open, but did not see any customers inside.

Residents could chat and walk around as long as they remain behind the cordon.

Md Nazmul, a 35-year-old foreign construction worker, said migrant workers are having a hard time trying to find regular meals.

A limited number of meals are distributed by civil society groups and some migrants missed out, said the Bangladesh national who has worked in Malaysia for 13 years.

“We are not lucky to always get food, although some people and groups come to deliver. Locals are given priority and foreigners are usually the last to get it.”

He and other migrant workers cook simple meals with the few food items they have stocked up before the lockdown.

Recently, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun donated some 200 sets of rice and eggs to those in the Semco area.

Things are easier for hardware shop owner See Tho, 45, as his siblings living outside Pudu are helping to deliver food to him and his 73-year-old mother.

“Food is not such a problem for me. It’s more important that this Semco be used to test everyone for Covid-19.”

He has been living in Pudu for more than 30 years and hopes the lockdown will be lifted soon.

For now, Pudu’s Semco does not have a deadline. – May 25, 2020.