KUCHING: Kampung Haji Baki here was unusually quiet on Wednesday.
The usual hustle and bustle of the village came to a grinding halt after the government enforced the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in it.
Almost 4,200 residents from 530 houses in Blocks A, B and C are barred from leaving their homes until Nov 11.
Block A village chief, Bujang Hj Mahrup described the situation in his area as calm.
“The EMCO today started smoothly because the residents had predicted that our area would be put on lockdown.
“Compared to our very first MCO in March, I think everyone now is more prepared than before, “ he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
Asked whether they had enough food supply for two weeks, he said the state government would be giving food assistance to the residents.
“The State Welfare Department and Baitulmal are helping us on this issue.
“Based on yesterday’s briefing by the authority, the food assistance will be distributed to my area either on Thursday or Friday,” he added.
He also informed that the State Health Department had conducted swab tests on Block A residents.
“If Im not mistaken, 11 individuals have not been screened yet. They will undergo the swab tests tomorrow together with the Blocks B and C residents,” he added.
Block B village Baslie Sulaiman said the JKKK committee members now communicated through WhatsApp.
“We had already experienced such quietness before. Like it or not, we need to go digital to ensure all residents receive accurate information,” he said.
Block C village head, Rosli Ahmad Darus said that the Welfare Department had assured them that food necessities would be provided throughout the EMCO period.
The department, he added, would provide them with food such as rice, canned sardines and milk. It would cater to their medical needs as well.
