Portuguese Settlement folk facing an unfair phobia

 

Not only are the settlement folk unable to open their businesses, they are also being barred from entering business premises outside the settlement.

PETALING JAYA: Melaka’s Portuguese Settlement has been one of the top choices for tourists into the heritage city, with the locals always welcoming outsiders with a smile and good food in the restaurants there.

Now, the settlement residents are facing rejection and being snubbed by others in Melaka who fear that they may be Covid-19 positive after a surge in cases there.

The settlement folk are understandably upset. Not only are they not able to open their businesses in the settlement, they are also being barred from entering local business premises outside the settlement.

The settlement is linked to the Jalan D’Aranjo cluster, a community cluster there. When announcing the cluster on July 14, the health ministry said that 26 of the 82 people screened tested positive – but there have been very few updates as to the total number of positive cases since then.

“You know how it is when people start rumour-mongering,” said Cyril De Mello, the deputy chairman of the settlement’s village development and security committee.

“It’s as if we’re in a Covid-19 warzone and people are walking around here like zombies.

“People need to shop, buy food. But now neighbouring supermarkets are not admitting people … that’s not right. It’s not good to discriminate.”

De Mello claimed the discrimination was happening in shops located within a four-km radius around the settlement.

Save The Portuguese Action Committee chairman Martin Theseira said that while 150 of the Portuguese Settlement’s residents have been screened and quarantined by the health ministry on Sunday, the area’s shopkeepers are refusing entry to other residents as well.

“They are stopping our people from buying goods, and it’s very humiliating to be chased out of a shop,” said Theseira.

“This must stop as it’s creating fear and anxiety.”

Earlier today, Melaka chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali urged convenience stores and restaurant operators to stop preventing residents from the Portuguese Settlement from entering their business premises.

He said it was unfair to stereotype the community just because a few of them tested positive for Covid-19 – calling for them to be more compassionate during the pandemic.

“Not all from the settlement have tested positive for Covid-19,” he said.

“Please stop being unfair to those who are healthy and follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) by having them scan the MySejahtera to enter the premises.” - FMT