Threat of the callous M’sian

Photo for illustration purpose only. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Why bother to quarantine when it is just a fever and everyone will eventually be infected with the Covid-19 virus – that seems to be the attitude of some Malaysians who are getting complacent about the pandemic situation.

A 56-year-old man, for instance, not only refused to quarantine himself but mingled and dined with his family. He even slipped out of the house to go to nearby shops.

His daughter, a teacher who wanted to be known as Nadiah, was not amused, especially after her father’s antics led to the whole family being infected. All have since recovered.

“My dad tested positive about a month ago, but he didn’t quarantine himself. He even sat in the living room and dined with my mother and sister. A few days later, both of them tested positive.

“I scolded my father, but he said ‘don’t worry, it is just a normal fever and people get infected so easily now even when they follow the standard operating procedure (SOP)’,” she said.

Nadiah said her father, who lives in Banting, Selangor, even slipped out of the house when he was Covid-19 positive.

“He went out to buy food and just wrote in his name on the register book. Even after I helped him to report his status on MySejahtera, he could still enter a pharmacy. He said no one checked his status,” she said.Final year student, Adlin (not his real name) was unaware that two of his course mates had tested positive before an event.

“On Feb 18, all of us were tested before our curriculum event the next day. Some of my course mates tested positive but hid the information because they wanted to take part in the event.

“We all hung out together and sat in an air-conditioned hall. A few days later, at least nine tested positive.

Those who had caused the problem just shrugged off the matter.

“There were those who said: ‘things happen, we can’t blame anyone’,” he said.

Adlin, however, admitted that he too had failed to report his positive status on MySejahtera.

In fact, he said he had “abandoned” the app.

“I haven’t used it for a long time. We can still make it around our campus and no one actually checks.

“When I tested positive, I didn’t report it because I would have had to be quarantined at a different building where it is difficult to get food. I would need to depend on runners and, as students, we can’t afford that.

“My friends and I just quarantined ourselves and bought food from roadside stalls,” he added.

Meanwhile, businessman Terry was surprised that he was able to check into a hotel in Yong Peng, Johor, recently even though his MySejahtera’s status was red.

“I ended my quarantine period but my status hadn’t changed. When I arrived at the first hotel, they didn’t let me in so I checked into another hotel where my status was not inspected,” he said.

Terry, who tested positive on Feb 28, also admitted to violating the SOP.

“After I tested positive, I dined in at a restaurant but no one checked.

“Most people are getting a bit lazy with these SOP and most stores don’t check your status. Only malls and supermarkets are particular about it,” he added.

Single mum Siti, 47, said she had on a few occasions forgotten to scan her MySejahtera when entering a premises.

She said that although she had recovered from an infection, her MySejahtera status was still red.

“I had tested myself and it was negative. As a single mum, I still had to run errands so I just tried my luck and went to buy groceries. But I only went out after I tested negative,” she said.