KUALA LUMPUR, 22 April 2020:
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) have erected nine watchtowers in Pusat Bandar Utara and areas around the Selayang wholesale market here, which are under the Enhanced Control Movement Order (EMCO) until May 3.
Chief of Defence Force general Tan Sri Affendi Buang said the towers were specifically built to monitor and control the movement of residents in the area.
“This is MAF’s initiative to facilitate personnel in carrying out their task of monitoring any attempts by external parties to enter the EMCO area.” He said the sixth EMCO area in the country was the first to have such watchtowers.
Yesterday, a man – believed to be a foreigner – was arrested while attempting to escape from the locked-down area near the Selayang wholesale market.
It was learned from several taxi drivers in the area that there had been immigrants trying to flee the area since yesterday, with some even cutting through the barbed wires installed.
Only areas surrounding the Selayang market, officially known as the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market are under EMCO, and not the market itself.
Eight 24-hour lines are made available for residents who are subjected to the EMCO area, if they need any assistance.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said eight parcels in the EMCO area would have their own telephone numbers to facilitate residents to lodge complaints or call for assistance, like those who have run out of food supply or in need of medical assistance.
“Yesterday, we received information on people complaining about problems getting milk and food for their children because of the EMCO as they cannot go anywhere.
“So we have decided for all eight parcels in the area to each have a person-in-charge to answer the calls and immediately resolve whatever complaints or assistance required,” he said live on Facebook today.
He said the number to contact for Parcel A is 011-36435402, Parcel B (011-31438670), Parcel C (011-36435573), Parcel D (011-31438563), Parcel E1 (011-36435467), Parcel E2 (011-31438085) , Parcel E3 (011-33759712) and Parcel F (011-31438364).
“The Social Welfare Department (JKM) will send food supply to residents according to parcels and the Malaysian Armed Forces will assist in the distribution for the non-Malaysian residents.”
Meanwhile, Annuar said the Covid-19 screening of residents in the affected area is expected to complete in a week.
On Monday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the government’s decision to put Pusat Bandar Utara and areas around the Selayang wholesale market under EMCO.
He said the decision was implemented based on advice from the Health Minister, involving eight parcels identified as follows:
- Parcel A: Jalan 6/3A, Pusat Bandar Utara, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel B: Jalan 6/3A and 9/3A, Pusat Bandar Utara, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel C: Jalan 2/3A, Pusat Bandar Utara, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel D: Jalan 2/3A, Pusat Bandar Utara, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel E1: Taman Sri Murni Fasa 2, Jalan 1/2D, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel E2: Taman Sri Murni Fasa 1, Jalan 1/2D, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel E3: Taman Sri Murni Fasa 3, Jalan 1/2B, Kuala Lumpur
- Parcel F: Taman Batu View and Taman Batu Hampar, Kuala Lumpur
– Bernama