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Sabah Man Walks 70KM To Get Home During MCO, Lost Doggo Joins Him On His Journey

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Man walks 70KM to do his part during MCO

Man Walks 70KM To Get Home During MCO Lost Dog Joins Him
Sabah man walked home during the MCO after arriving from Japan for social distancing
Image credit: Free Malaysia Today

Since the start of the Movement Control Order (MCO), the Malaysian government has been tightening the rules on MCO phase 2. The most frequent advice is to remember the importance of social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

But one man took social distancing to a whole new level and walks 70KM back to his hometown to avoid close contact with the general public. And he managed to pick up a furry friend along the way. 

Walks 70KM home after returning from Japan

Alixson Mangundok arrived in Sabah from Osaka on 25th March 2020 and was put through a routine screening test, as reported by The Star. Much to his relief, the health officials at KK’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital said that he could go straight home to be quarantined for 14 days while waiting for his results.

Because he didn’t want to infect anyone in case he had the virus, he decided to walk all the way back to his wife and 2 kids in Kota Marudu. 

En route, he chanced upon a stray dog at a cemetery. The pooch stayed by his heels and he eventually named it Hachiko – after the loyal Japanese dog who waited for his departed owner at a railway station. 

Man Walks 70KM To Get Home During MCO Lost Dog Joins Him
Alixon with a statue of Hachiko in Japan.
Image credit: Alixson Awandoh

Policemen at roadblocks offered to give them a ride, but because he had not gotten his results yet and he had Hachiko, Alixson declined their help. The entire journey took him 3 days to cover about 70KM.

Companion gained while journeying home

Earlier today, The Star reported that Hachiko was actually a lost doggo called Kutu who belonged to a shopkeeper known as Arjun. She cared for Kutu until he went missing on 26th March 2020. Despite missing him dearly, Arjun said that she’s proud of Kutu for being a loyal companion to Alixson this whole time. 

Man Walks 70KM To Get Home During MCO Lost Dog Joins Him
Hachiko, now known as Kutu.
Image credit: Free Malaysia Today

This pair’s heartwarming story has already gone viral all over social media and Malaysians are in awe of Alixon for literally going the extra mile to ensure the safety of his loved ones. Alixon has already spoken to Arjun and plans to reunite the 2 of them as soon as possible. 

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