Malaysians on lockdown: Let’s do it

In full support: Prakash (left) and Abdul Hakim agree that the full lockdown would help flatten the Covid-19 curve.

PETALING JAYA: While many Malaysians agreed with the two-week nationwide full lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, some are urging the government to speed up the vaccination programme.

Internet user Jennifer Chung said the implementation of a full lockdown was “way overdue”.

“I hope this is a REAL lockdown this time, ” she said when commenting on the news article on The Star’s Facebook page.

Vinodh Selvarajoo said he hoped only genuine essential services would be allowed while other businesses should be shut during the period.

Instagram user singhguruguru said: “Lock down anything you like, but vaccination boost up pls”.

Meanwhile, Wan Nurazlina expressed her concerns about where to buy diapers.

“Just hope Manjaku (that is) selling baby diapers (is) still open, (I can’t remember if) it’s under essential services or not, ” she commented.

Instagram user Mzaimm said the full lockdown would be “very painful for many” but it was the best approach to prevent the pandemic from spiralling out of control.

Questions were also asked on which government services would be opened during the full lockdown, with Ghulam Mujtaba Hashmi asking whether the Immigration Department would be open.

Facebook user Eityng Theng urged the government to enforce the lockdown as “we do not need another version of MCO 2.0, (or) MCO 3.0”.

The special National Security Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Friday a two-week full lockdown from June 1.

All sectors will not be allowed to operate except for essential economic and service sectors.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the decision was made following the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases.

In Johor Baru, engineer P. Prakash, 26, said it was a much-anticipated move as he has been anxious about the increase in new cases daily.

“For me, it is an obvious move and I welcome it with an open heart. I feel that some people are still not taking the pandemic seriously despite the number of cases.

“With a full lockdown, we may have a better chance of stopping the spread of Covid-19, ” he said.

Hairdresser and part-time makeup artist Abdul Hakim Azmi, 26, said while a full lockdown was not ideal, it was probably the only way to avoid a further increase in cases.

“The lockdown would definitely affect my income as I am paid based on my services.

“For the next two weeks, I will have to depend on my savings, ” he said.

“But I think we have no other choice. I believe this is the only way to bring the number of cases down.”

Second-hand car dealer Tan Choo Oo, 70, said he was concerned about the economic impact if the lockdown were to be further extended.

“I hope the pandemic will improve after two weeks or a maximum of one month, ” he said.

“I do not think that the people could handle a lockdown that is any longer than that.

“Many have lost their jobs and forced to shut down their businesses for good, ” he said.