Bus terminals, supermarkets filled to the brim before MCO begins

 

KOTA KINABALU: There were crowds at public places like bus terminals and supermarkets, while the roads were congested.

That was the scene here on Tuesday (Jan 12), a day before the movement control order is enforced again.

Even in smaller towns like Kota Belud, residents were rushing to get some cash out from banks, since many of the sundry shops and restaurants there did not provide cashless services.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said she had queued up since early morning to withdraw her money from the ATM as she was worried that she would not be able to buy essential items during the period.

"I just want to be on the safe side. Many of the shops here only accept cash, ” said the mother of one.

In the Inanam bus terminal, commuters were seen queuing up to buy tickets to get back to their hometown.

Many of them said they did not want to be stuck in the city throughout the MCO period and that they wanted to be home with their families as they anticipated that the movement restrictions would be extended beyond Jan 26.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had on Monday announced for the MCO would be implemented in six states, including Sabah.

For parents in Sandakan, many of them hurried to their children's school to collect textbooks for the new school term.

"One of my children was supposed to get his textbooks on Jan 13 and the other on Jan 15 but because of the MCO, the parents were asked to get the books on Jan 12, ” said mother of two Aaliyah Wendy Chong, 35.

Luckily, she said, the school did a good job in distributing the books by allocating different times for the parents so that there was no congestion in the school.

Other parents, meanwhile, went to buy school supplies for their children.A couple from Kundasang, some 100km from here, said they came to Kota Kinabalu to buy uniforms, shoes and other supplies before the MCO kicked in.

Asked if it was necessary to come so far to do so, especially since classes would most likely be held online, they said it did not matter because their children would eventually need to use them when they return to school. - Star