Quiet falls over Malaysia, with residents in lockdown after last night of travel and dining out

Roads were packed before the order came into effect at midnight on Tuesday, with some rushing to stock up on groceries or spend time with family before travel was banned

Six regions, including the capital, are under a strict two-week movement control order, with residents only allowed to leave home to buy food or necessities and in emergencies

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Deserted roads in Kuala Lumpur on the first day of the country’s latest lockdown. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30pm, 13 Jan 2021Updated: 8:30pm, 13 Jan 2021

The streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city, were empty on Wednesday morning – a far cry from the previous night’s hubbub as people scrambled to make preparations for a two-week lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Roads were packed before the order came into force at midnight on Tuesday, with Malaysians squeezing in one last dinner or drink against the backdrop of thousands of coronavirus cases. Others returned to their hometowns before a ban on interstate or even interdistrict travel took effect, or rushed to stock up on groceries despite government assurances of adequate supplies.

Some, however, just wanted to enjoy time with their families before they were separated.

“I went across town to spend time with my older brother and his girlfriend,” research analyst Harris Zainul said. “I wasn’t panicked or rushing out to buy anything, Malaysians should not only know but also appreciate better the fact that grocery stores will continue to be open and shelves stocked. We are better prepared after last year’s experience.”

Procurement analyst Jeremaiah Lazarus echoed this after his trip to Johor Bharu, a city in Malaysia’s southernmost state.

“I already stocked up on groceries last week, and I was concerned that most Malaysians would flock to supermarkets at the eleventh hour so I did not want to be in crowded places,” he said. “I am not so concerned as I work from home and I can still go out to get supplies. That said, my thoughts go out to those who can’t or those who will be affected by this.”

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