COMMENT | On April 7, the government, ordered the imposition of the enhanced movement control order (MCO) in two buildings along Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur – Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion.

This followed the discovery of 15 confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 and the enhanced MCO involved around 6,000 residents in 365 residential and commercial units in the buildings. Under this type of MCO, residents are prohibited from exiting the premises, while non-residents and visitors were not allowed to enter as all entry and exit points were sealed. For residents, food was ordered via delivery services delivered at designated areas.

Protests over the manner in which the enhanced MCO was enforced and occupants marched in handcuffs to waiting Black Marias were ignored and, in the process, a journalist – Tashny Sukumaran - was interrogated for reporting what she saw. Subsequently, a TV crew from Al-Jazeera and a whistle-blower found themselves declared persona non grata for what has been described as a “fair and accurate” state of affairs in the enforcement of the enhanced MCO.

On May 10, a team from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall sealed the Long Bar, the Hash Bar and The Cellar of the Royal Selangor Club. There were four members inside the Long Bar and another five seated in the terrace area. All had observed the social distancing rules and at no time were they or the club reprimanded for any breach.

The officers ordered the members to leave the bar and proceeded to seal the bar with security tape. They sealed the Hash Bar as well and then went to the Cellar and proceeded to do the same but this bar had not been in operation since the full movement control order (MCO) was issued on March 18.

Drastic measures indeed but some members took ...