Authorities close off Pudu area for semi-enhanced MCO
Image adapted from: Wikimedia Commons
On 14th May 2020, residents of Pudu, KL received a late-night visit from local military authorities who set up barbed wire fences at all exit roads to screen anyone going in or out of the area. While these measures remind us of the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) that has taken place across some states which have higher COVID-19 case numbers, authorities have clarified that Pudu is not under EMCO.
The presence of the military and fences are, instead, preventive measures as the authorities are carrying out COVID-19 screenings on Pudu residents due to the large concentration of foreign workers and undocumented residents living there. The current situation in Pudu has been described as “semi-enhanced MCO“.
Residents still allowed to leave the area for valid reasons
According to Free Malaysia Today, the Dang Wangi police has confirmed that Pudu has come under semi-enhanced MCO as of late last night, with army trucks arriving at the area from 11PM. In another report by Malay Mail, the Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim released a statement and said that the semi-enhanced MCO in Pudu is not by any means a lockdown as residents there are still allowed to move in and out of the premises if they have a valid reason.
Image adapted from: Free Malaysia Today
The move is meant to supplement the existing MCO exercise, similar to what authorities have done at the Jalan Raja Bot wet market in Chow Kit. The market in question had been recently ordered to shut down all operations for 2 weeks by the Ministry of Health while they do COVID-19 screenings on all workers as well as sanitisation works on the premises.
Image credit: Perbadanan Pembangunan Kampong Bharu
The area is also known to be a bustling hub due to its close proximity to other busy areas in KL, such as Chinatown and Bukit Bintang. It was also shared that a large concentration of refugees and undocumented migrants can be found residing there.
Image credit: Malay Mail
The affected roads that have been cordoned off include:
- Jalan Pudu
- Jalan Kancil
- Jalan Pasar
- Jalan Landak
- Lorong Brunei
- Lorong Brunei
M’sia taking preventive measures by conducting COVID-19 screenings in high-risk territories
It’s encouraging to see local authorities continue being vigilant and taking preventive measures to ensure that the country continues to make significant progress in tackling this COVID-19 pandemic. Although the number of new COVID-19 cases are on a steady downward trend, we can’t afford to take any risks as the threat of a second wave of infections is still looming.
While the government is busy handling the situation at the front lines, the rest of us can show our support and contribute by staying safe whenever we head out and practising good hygiene habits.
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