KUALA LUMPUR: Amidst the “kluster kayangan” (elite group of Malaysians returning from abroad) who had criticised the government for “poor facilities” at quarantine centres, a young Malaysian said he was pleasantly surprised at the preparedness and efficiency of the frontliners.
Shacind Ananthan, who had recently returned from the United Kingdom, commended the front-liners who assisted him and fellow Malaysians throughout their journey from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to their quarantine location at the Impiana KLCC Hotel with “much care and respect”.
“It is not an overstatement to say that Malaysia has been one of the most proactive countries with tackling the Covid-19 menace.
“My mind was in a state of disbelief.
“I kept wondering how much manpower and logistics it must have taken to make the process as smooth as possible and achieve this insane level of efficiency,” he wrote in a post on Facebook, which had been liked by over 12,000 netizens and shared over 7,700 times.
Shacind hoped that sharing his experience would help counter the fake narratives online that seek to defame Malaysia.
“The entire ecosystem functioned like a well-oiled machine, no stone was left unturned. Therefore, I urge the armchair economists at home, the constant naysayers — if you cannot acknowledge the good our government is doing, at least don’t stand in their way.”
Shacind recounted his experience from while he was on the plane from Doha to KL, where he had transited from Manchester.
Upon landing at KLIA, he said, they were greeted warmly by two personnel.
“As we approached the Skytrain, another policewoman took over and brought us to the bus lounge, where we boarded a bus to the arrival hall. Each coach had a maximum of only 10 people
“At every ‘checkpoint’, there were at least one to two officers who did their job diligently. There was no hold-up and the process was very smooth.
“Once we alighted the bus, we walked to the immigration counters and were screened by an infra-red thermometry system.
“We were then guided towards health officials from the Health Ministry.
“I was impressed with the number of health officials and the amenities provided for them. There were around 10 officials, each provided with a chair and table.”
After clearing the immigration, Shacind said they queued to sanitise their hands and were given another form to fill, while waiting for three more batches of people to arrive.
After that, he said, they were briefed on the do’s and don’ts while in quarantine by a police officer.
They were then escorted by another officer to the baggage claim area where their luggage had been taken off the baggage carousel and organised.
Fireman fumigated their luggage and backpacks, while they sanitised their hands before being handed a bag full of snacks by another officer, he said.
He said three Smart Selangor buses were waiting to ferry them.
“It was very systematic, only allowing one person in the bus at a time to maintain social distancing.”
Shacind said dozens of people in full hazmat suits were screening and registering people upon their arrival at the hotel.
While still aboard the bus, an Air Force Special Air Service personnel briefed them on the next course of action, and upon alighting, their temperature was taken, form filled, and passport photocopied, he wrote.
They were then handed room keys along with two masks each and were directed into the hotel.
In the room, he said, there were two boxes of bottled water, plastic bags for the contaminated clothes, a huge bag filled with coffee, biscuits and snacks, among others.
“We are being served good nutritious food three times a day and housed in a four-star (some five star) hotel all for free of charge.
“There is 24/7 surveillance and a medical team at our doorstep at all times.
“I bow down to this great nation with utmost humility, thank you for this Malaysia.”
Shacind noted that the Movement Control Order and quarantine had cultivated the sense of community and feeling of unity that Malaysians had lost.
“All 74 of us quarantined at Impiana KLCC were added into a WhatsApp group by Lieutenant Zakee (who was in charge of our welfare in the hotel) for ease of communication.”