KUALA LUMPUR – As the Perikatan Nasional government has failed to help combat Covid-19 in their neighbourhood, residents of a public housing project in Bukit Jalil have taken it upon themselves to protect and police their community.
Kg Muhibbah People’s Housing Project residents indeed live up to the name of their flats, finding strength and unity in cultural diversity to ensure they are able to steel through the pandemic and the resulting economic fallout without government assistance.
Gotong-royong, Rukun Tetangga see revival
At Block B, the spirit of gotong-royong and Rukun Tetangga of yesteryears is making a comeback, led by 52-year-old Atar Bacha Hajar.
“Our community pools what little resources we have – whether food, groceries, money or plain manpower – to ensure our neighbours are properly fed, observe Covid-19 standard operating procedures, and that their needs are taken care of.”
Fondly known as Uncle Atar, the retiree told The Vibes that since the third movement control order was enforced in May, 45 residents of Block B have been infected with the coronavirus, with six deaths involving senior citizens.
“Because of the deaths, residents agreed to take precautionary measures, sacrificing their income, irrespective of race and religion. We managed to collect about RM3,000 to purchase sanitising equipment.”
He said one of the measures is to sanitise the elevators at the block several times a day, and allocating one for use only by Covid-19 patients.
Two of the three staircases at the block have also been cordoned off to prevent patients living in the 17-floor building from escaping quarantine.
“The residents have been working hard to reduce Covid-19 cases at our block, and doing their utmost best to take care of infected families, whose movement is restricted, by providing them with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and sanitising their homes.”
Of the 1,500 residents at Block B, 30 are committee members who have taken up the role of safeguarding the community. So far, they have sanitised 15 units and conducted Covid-19 fogging two to three times a week.
The committee also conducts fogging at two surau and one temple near the block weekly.
As many are working from home or left without a job as a result of the various lockdowns, some residents have volunteered to work in shifts of five to patrol the building every day from 7am to 10pm.
Atar said the committee is forced to carry out patrols to ensure no Covid-19 patient poses the risk of spreading the virus to the public, or an individual belonging to a vulnerable group does not unnecessarily expose themselves to the health threat.
“Every now and then, we have senior citizens trying to sneak out by giving reasons like wanting to go to the grocery store. We have no choice, but to take drastic action to put a stop to it.”
Covid-19 patients wait days for ambulance
Asked why the community has been forced to take these measures, Atar said the authorities have given them barely any assistance since the pandemic began.
However, he said he understands the problems faced by the Health Ministry as Covid-19 cases have surged over the past year following the Sabah polls last September.
Waiting for assistance from the ministry will only make things worse for residents at Block B, he said.
“I am not saying that they (the ministry) are not doing a good job; I know that they are in a difficult position, too. This is evident as currently, even confirmed Covid-19 patients must wait for days for an ambulance to ferry them to hospital.
“I feel sorry for the authorities, as they are human and get exhausted, too. So, we as the rakyat must play our role in combating the pandemic. We cannot just rely on the authorities.”
As leader of Block B, Atar said it is his duty and obligation to keep residents safe. He has been living at the flats for 16 years and counting.
This is “fardhu kifayah” (communal obligation), he added, a duty and responsibility that a Muslim must conduct to ensure the betterment or survival of the society in which he or she lives.
“I believe and know for sure that everyone in our block holds the same feelings and thoughts as I do, regardless of faith. No religion teaches you (to do) bad, instead it teaches you to be compassionate.
“We had one (girl) living on one of the floors (of the building) who was Covid-19-positive. She was all alone; no family member was here.
“When she informed us (the elders), we were very disturbed because no one should face this pandemic alone.” – The Vibes, August 15, 2021
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