KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The popular shopping streets in downtown Kuala Lumpur known as the Jalan Masjid India district have been placed under total lockdown after more than 40 people tested positive for Covid-19.
Under the enhanced movement control order (Emco), no one is allowed to enter or leave the area, and food is distributed to residents by the authorities for 14 days. Health officials will check the health status of every resident.
The authorities have installed barbed wire fences around the area, which gets its name from a large mosque at the centre of the district, which is frequented by Malaysia's Indian-Muslim community.
The Jalan Masjid India district has a radius of about 1km and has more than 10,000 residents, including 6,000 staying at the Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion flats, and 3,200 people at Menara City One.
These three apartments had themselves been under the Emco after coronavirus cases surged there.
Premises along streets known to most Malaysians have also been closed. They included Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Dang Wangi and Jalan Munshi Abdullah.
The shopping streets are popular with tourists, including those from Singapore.
A check by The Star showed security forces putting up barbed wire fences at passageways in the area since Monday (April 13) night.
Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the Emco for the area on Tuesday (April 14) until April 28.
"We hope the residents and premises owners give their full cooperation to the authorities," he told reporters at his daily news conference to update on the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Jalan Masjid India thus joined several others areas which have been placed under total lockdown following surges in virus cases - villages in Simpang Renggam in Johor and those in Hulu Langat, Selangor.
Malaysia on Tuesday reported 4,985 infections and 82 deaths.
Meanwhile, Selangor police are bewildered that there are still many road users despite the movement curbs still being enforced.
State police chief Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin said that road congestion in certain areas in Selangor, especially in Puchong district, was caused by many people still leaving their homes.
"The MCO is still in effect so we don't understand why there are still many people on the road. Our roadblocks and deployment of personnel are still the same," he said when contacted on Tuesday.
Said Commissioner Noor Azam: "The people are supposed to stay at home during the MCO except those involved in essential services.
"We will take action in accordance with the law against those who failed to adhere to the MCO."
Those caught violating the MCO have been fined RM1,000 (S$326) and some brought to the court to be charged with other offences.
