Residents in low-cost flats take it upon themselves to combat virus

Keeping Covid-19 at bay: Sanitisation work is regularly carried out by the residents of PPR Seri Semarak in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: Communities in low-cost housing complexes housing tens of thousands of people in the capital city are taking measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 among residents.

Resident committees of three major low-cost flats, with more than 20,000 residents from the B40 group, realised they too have to be proactive as the pandemic takes its toll on the frontliners.

Another two low-cost flats – PPR Desa Rejang and PPR Ayer Panas –with about 30,000 residents, are also in the midst of doing the same.

The three low-cost housing complexes, namely PPR Seri Semarak, PPR Seri Aman and PPR Intan Baiduri, have seen a few clusters among the residents since the pandemic hit.

Federal Territory Residents Representative Council Zone 6 chairman Abdul Rahman Mohamad, who initiated the programme for the PPRs, stated that he mobilised donations from NGOs to carry out the measures.

“We managed to raise RM4,500 to buy knapsack sprayers, some disinfectant and personal protective equipment for the volunteers.

“We cannot rely solely on the authorities to keep us safe. We must do our part too, ” he said.

At PPR Seri Semarak, a group of volunteers headed by Jefri Hambali, 45, disinfects common areas of the more than 1,500 units of flats every two days.

Jefri said they targeted high traffic areas such as staircases, playground, surau and lifts.

“We currently have 39 volunteers. Disinfection is usually carried out after 9pm, when people have returned home from work.

“We have had several Covid-19 cases here, but the situation is under control.

“Hopefully, our efforts will help curb the spread of infection, ” he said.

Jefri said the programme also contributed positively towards keeping social ills at bay at the five-block flats.

He hopes the initiative at his complex would encourage more PPRs to follow suit and assist in breaking the chain of Covid-19 transmission among the B40 dwellings.

At the Seri Aman PPR in Kepong, residents have formed a group to ensure while Covid-19 cases in their complex are taken to the hospitals or low-cost quarantine centres, other residents are informed to stay away from the pathway.

The group relays information about lift usage by Covid-19 patients to improve physical distancing.

Resident association chairman Mohamed Nawaz Koya said the flats have had several confirmed cases since last year where infected residents had to go down to be picked up by ambulances.

“Once I get information about their pick-up time, I will alert everyone in the WhatsApp group to stay clear of the lift for at least half an hour.

“We use the Fire and Rescue Department lift for this purpose to limit contact. After the infected resident has left, the lift and its surrounding areas are sanitised, ” he said.

Nawaz said he received regular updates from the floor leaders at the housing project which comprised four blocks of 20 floors each.

“They will inform me if there are any new cases on their floor. I will alert our WhatsApp group about the block and floor number, ” he said.

He added that the association worked closely with the local MP and NGOs to supply food to units where residents have been allowed to quarantine at home.

“I will message them that I will be dropping the foodstuff in front of their unit at a certain time. Once I leave, they come out to pick it up, ” he said.

At PPR Intan Baiduri in Kepong, with about 1,800 units, the deaths of an elderly couple in the complex due to Covid-19 early this year prompted the resident association to initiate such a programme.

Resident association chairman Rashid Samad, 60, said several residents were under home quarantine, but it was hard to monitor all cases.

“Some keep this a secret from their block leader, so there were cases we were unaware of.

“If we do find that a unit had a positive case, the leader and a few residents will disinfect that floor with diluted bleach mixed with disinfectant, ” he said.

The association also pooled resources to make leaflets for residents containing useful health information.

“Not all residents are adhering to the standard operating procedure.

“We are in the midst of making leaflets in Malay, Chinese and Tamil to explain tips on physical distancing, how to wear a face mask and proper hand washing, ” he said.

Rashid also ensures all the regular aid the PPR receives from NGOs is distributed equitably to intended recipients.