KUALA LUMPUR – Several Malaysians undergoing Covid-19 quarantine at Istana Hotel in Bukit Bintang have complained of harassment by government officials.
It is understood that those observing isolation there arrived from India via a Malindo charter flight on May 13.
“We were supposed to undergo a 14-day quarantine, but due to developments with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, travellers from India are required to quarantine for a total of 21 days,” Dhana Balan, who is under quarantine at the hotel, told The Vibes.
He said some 50 guests there signed a letter addressed to the Health Ministry inquiring if they could self-quarantine at home for the extra seven days, but their request was denied.
With five days left till the end of their quarantine, their nightmare began when government officials started knocking on the doors of guests yet to pay for the extra week’s stay.
Balan alleged that the interactions between guests and government officials have been far from pleasant.
“We don’t know if they were from the Civil Defence Force, police or Health Ministry as they were covered with protective gear.
“When I heard sounds, I went out to check and asked what was wrong. But (a government official) told me to get back into my room or he would call police.”
The officials were demanding payment from guests, saying if they failed to pay up, they would be sent to a public training institute, added Balan.
“The woman they were interrogating asked me to assist her, because the officials were very rude.
“The person merely said he was from the Health Ministry and refused to reveal his name.”
Another guest on the same floor, Stephanie Andrea, who witnessed the commotion, said the fiasco began around 6pm.
I know the person in the room, her name is Kala Devi, and she is a woman in her 30s with a 6-month-old baby. She contacted someone to help settle the bill, and the official said if the payment was not made within 30 minutes, they would be evicted.”
Officials also entered the room of Makariba Bibe Abd Latiff, 68, by force and seized her belongings, tossing them outside.
“They told her that if she did not comply, she would be placed in the lock-up,” said Stephanie.
Another guest staying one floor down, K. Kaarthik, was threatened with police action when he refused to leave.
He said his refusal to leave was because officials did not give him any written documents.
“I didn’t mind going to another place. However, I told them to give it to me in black and white, where I was going and for how long, so I could inform my family, too.
“When I refused to leave, the official said they might have to get police officers to bring me out.”
While dealing with the officials, Kaarthik was on the phone with a family member.
An official asked if he was recording the incident, and seized his phone.
Istana Hotel manager Edyas Koko said they communicated with guests about payment for the extra seven days of quarantine.
“We found that six to seven rooms were unable to settle the full amount.
“So, we communicated with the Civil Defence Force and Health Ministry to find out what we could do.”
He said the Civil Defence Force decided to transfer these guests to public training institutes.
When the bus arrived, he said, some guests were suddenly able to pay.
“This was what happened. Police and the Health Ministry were doing their jobs.”
Asked if the authorities’ duties also involve threatening guests and entering their rooms without permission, Edyas said it is best to contact the relevant parties.
On the possibility of getting a response from the Health Ministry officials stationed there, the hotel claimed that the line was engaged. – The Vibes, May 30, 2021
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