Santhara explains why food could not arrive at lockdown areas immediately

Residents in Kuala Lumpur have complained they were left to starve after being placed under the enhanced movement control order (MCO) as food aid only arrived a few days after the lockdown.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Edmund Santhara acknowledged and explained the problems faced at the early stage of the enhanced MCO in these residential areas.

"There were challenges in the first two days as we had to do the (Covid-19 test) swabbing and get their names. We could only send in the (food and necessity) items after the registration and swabbing (was done)," he said in an interview with Malaysiakini and KiniTV.

Prior to that, Santhara said the government officers needed to tackle the possible psychological issues affecting the community.

"You must also understand that some people were quite aggressive at the beginning, so we had to calm them down. We could not move in straight away as we did not want unwanted incidents," he added.

The experience of their friends who were warded at the hospital receiving good medical treatment also enabled the government to build confidence among the affected people, he said.

"When we locked down a residential area, it is not that they immediately did not have food on the same day. Malaysian households usually have (food stockpile) for one or two weeks," he said.

Santhara said things became smoother and less complaints were received in the later part of the lockdown.

Besides giving rations, he said the welfare officers also sent in medicine, milk formula and cooking gas to the families who requested the items. 

The government had locked down Menara Plaza City One, Malayan Mansion, Selangor Mansion and the vicinity surrounding the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market. These residential areas are also home to more than 20,000 foreigners and refugees.

Video clips and messages of locals and foreigners crying of starvation went viral in the two to five days of the enhanced MCO.

They also complained about the double standard in treatment as better food was given to some but not to others. In Selayang, people complained of insufficient food supply as they only received rice, cooking oil and flour without vegetables and other food stuff.

Santhara explained this is because the government directly provides the people with dry supplies only and people will have to take turns to receive the additional items donated by the NGOs, corporate bodies and lawmakers.

To resolve the complaints, he said, the government now puts a sticker on the packaging of these supplies so the people will know the source of the food aid.

Santhara reiterated that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) would not be used to feed foreigners at the enhanced MCO areas and the government had encouraged NGOs and corporate sectors to help them. 

Besides receiving donations to fund the food aid, he said the government had also channelled items in good condition confiscated from illegal market traders.

He urged human rights groups to come forward to help the government by raising funds for Rohingya refugees during the MCO and post-MCO era.

In response to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, who urged the government not to turn the Rohingya refugees away and leave them hungry, Santhara said it is easy to make such comments and challenge the government on the issue. 

"I have seen Anwar personally making a lot of comments. But you have to lift your hand and put your heart into it.

"Speak to your corporate captain and friends to come out and donate (to the cause of the Rohingya)," Santhara said. 

There had been a surge of animosity against the Rohingya group since the enhanced MCO was imposed in Klang Valley, according to NGOs Mercy Malaysia, Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imaret) and Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA).

On April 16, the Royal Malaysian Navy turned back a refugee ship carrying some 200 people.

On April 26, Anwar said the country's leaders should not avoid the Rohingya issue simply because it was unpopular. - Mkini