The returnees who flew in via KLIA are lucky. The link to the story is here. Nice comfortable beds. Modern bathroom facilities. They would probably fall sick from boredom more than anything else.
However, some people who returned via Johore Baru are unhappy. They risk catching something else, if they do not show signs of contracting Coronavirus.
They must endure disgusting condition for 14 days. Dirty, cramped and not fit for humans.
Would you stay there or allow your relative to stay there?
The place in JB is alleged to be government quarters. How did the facilities get so run down? (Photo credits Jaspal)
Meanwhile in Sabah, a group of students who returned from England on 28 March, were forced to stay there but when they saw the conditions they complained and were later housed in a hotel at their own cost.
On 1 April, Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, said that from 3 April, any Malaysian returning from overseas, will be sent for quarantine for 14 days, as soon as they leave their aircraft. We are also told that 364 quarantine centers have been established in Malaysia.
Many are happy to return home, and accept that they must be in isolation for a fortnight, because of the threat of coronavirus, but their only request is that the quarantine facilities, although basic, are clean, habitable and not cramped.
They understand the need to be quarantined, to help halt the spread of coronavirus, in case they are carriers of the disease, but why should they put their health at risk, and contract a disease, because the place is filthy, or because another resident is infected. Nor do they want to develop mental health issues, from being forced to live in an uninhabitable facility, for 14 days.
Do they satisfy the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR) with regard to cleanliness, accommodation, food, privacy, and facilities including ease of communication with health personnel and with the outside world?
We would like to know if the quarantine centers that were set up by the government, for Malaysians returning from overseas are fit for purpose?
So, who vets and inspects the quarantine premises? Would the members of the National Security Council for themselves, or any of the members of their families, be happy to live for 14 days, in the disgusting quarantine facility?
Ismail Sabri should not dismiss these complaints lightly.
It is wrong to assume that Malaysians returning from overseas demand five star hotel accommodation during quarantine.
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