PETALING JAYA: Keep calm but stock up on food, anyway.
Beatrice Lau, a Malaysian chemical engineer living in Lyon, where overnight curfews are in place as France deals with protests and looting, said she would stock up on food items such as meat, vegetables, rice and noodles.
“I usually buy my groceries every week but due to everything that is going on now, I try to buy as much as I can to stock up so I wouldn’t have to leave my house as much,” she said.
These days, she would need to review her comings and goings after seeing reports of demonstrations nearby.
“It is better to plan ahead, keep up with local news and avoid places where crowds are gathering,” said Lau, 34.
“I would be more careful about where I go and check the situation before leaving home. I would rather postpone the trip than risk getting caught in a crowd.”
Staying calm and following advice from local authorities were important while the situation remained uncertain, she said.
Lau, who has been based in France for six years and now lives with her friends, said keeping in touch with others and monitoring local news helped provide reassurance during an uncertain period.
“Everyone wants to carry on with their normal routine, but when there are demonstrations, you have to be flexible.
“I make sure my phone is charged, keep my family updated and avoid areas where gatherings are taking place,” she said.
A 27-year-old Malaysian student in Paris, who wished to be known as Lucas, said that the biggest challenge was deciding which areas to avoid and whether planned journeys could go ahead.
“I saw crowds gathering along the streets, with police officers deployed nearby as demonstrators chanted slogans.
“Even if you are not taking part in the demonstrations, you still have to pay attention to what is happening around you. I would rather change my plans than risk getting caught in any situation,” he said.
Lucas said the atmosphere became tense after hearing reports of demonstrations near parts of the city, prompting him to change plans and avoid crowded areas.
“I was planning to go out, but after seeing reports of clashes and large crowds, I decided it was better to stay home. I checked local updates and messaged my friends to make sure they were safe,” he said.
Lucas said the uncertainty was unsettling, particularly when videos of confrontations circulated on social media.
“You see videos online and you start wondering how close the situation is to where you live.
“I did not want to take unnecessary risks, so I postponed my plans and waited for things to settle down,” he said.
