ALOR SETAR – Although it is estimated that there are more than 360,000 residents living in 28 sub-districts in Kota Setar, the district has been deserted since last Friday following the implementation of the administrative Enchanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
A survey by Bernama found that only a few business premises were operating as usual while the number of vehicles seen in the city centre had dropped due to many residents taking steps to comply with the instructions by staying at home.
The situation is very different from before where the district was always bustling with a large number of vehicles, especially on weekdays.
A resident, Muhammad Akmal Hakim Roseli, 30, who lives in Taman Nuri near Jalan Datuk Kumbar said he saw that the EMCO scenario was not much different from the Movement Control Order (MCO) which was implemented in March.
“Currently, everything is in good condition. The necessities in the grocery stores are also adequate and so far supplies have not been cut off, so the residents in this area are not worried and comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the government.
Restaurants and eateries are also operating as usual but only for ‘’takeaways’’ and can only operate from 8 am to 8 pm. Traffic is minimal as many are worried about leaving home,’’ he told Bernama here Sept 14.
Mashitah Abu Bakar, 60, who lives in Kota Sarang Semut, said that although she was a little surprised by the implementation of the EMCO, her family accepted it as it was implemented in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as the situation is increasingly worrying in the district.
“When I learnt that the EMCO will be implemented, I was worried but this is for the good of all. The situation here is all good and necessities are also sufficient, and so far no residents in the area have resorted to panic buying,’’ Mashitah said.
Meanwhile, Kota Setar district police chief ACP Nor Azman Mohd Noor, when contacted by Bernama, said roadblocks have been set up at nine locations in the district and residents have given good cooperation to personnel manning the roadblocks.
“There were several “rat trails’’ identified and closed to prevent residents from going in and out of the area. Overall, the cooperation from the residents in the Kota Setar district is good, however, a total of 24 compounds were issued until yesterday to individuals who did not comply with the order (EMCO),” he added.
— BERNAMA
