MCO 2.0 – Battling the Pandemic War

"He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything..." - Thomas Carlyle

(Source: Bernama)

The Coronavirus cases and clusters are surging in many regions and states in Malaysia. This virus is affecting everyone and has changed all aspect of our lives.

As a measure to curb the pandemic, the government had enforced MCO 2.0 for a two-week period from Jan 13-26 in Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sabah and in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. Conditional MCO has been imposed in Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, while Perlis and Sarawak are under Recovery MCO.

Besides the sharp rise in daily new cases and clusters, MOH is also concerned about the transmission of new variants of the coronavirus.

(Malaysian Panglima Perang. Source: Bernama)

May Allah bless us all and keep us safe. For now we just stay at home...

Getting ready for the lockdown...

"And we shall try you until we test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patient..." - Quran 47:31

(Adding colors to a dull quarantine life)

In a few days time we will undergo the lockdown again!

We made a trip to Plaza Damas and bought provisions from Mercato. This will be enough to last us for at least two weeks. For wet food and fresh vege, we had our supplies from the Peniagawati Muslimah or order on-line if necessary.

While we were in Plaza Damas, we had a sumptuous lunch at Malabar Palace. This restaurant serves Indian cuisines from traditional flavors of Kerala village. We tried a few dishes from the menu. The food together with the complimentary pickle and chutney, are all tasty and delicious. The last time we had an authentic Indian cuisine was in Danang, Vietnam.

The mango lassi and masala tea are surely recommended.

(Malabar Palace, Plaza Damas)

(Nice and cozy)

(Mango Lassi and Massala Tea)

Muslim-themed Shopping Mall...

"Stay home, stay safe – the only medicine found till now for coronavirus..."

(Social distancing everywhere)

It was not safe to bring Hana and Amir to the shopping malls on weekends because they will mostly be crowded. Instead, we went out on Monday to Malakat Mall to have lunch at Bunch-oh Restaurant and window shop there.

(Hana and Amir at Malakat Mall)

(There were sales everywhere)

Malakat Mall is the first Muslim-themed shopping complex in Malaysia. The mall, which brings together businesses, is a strategic effort to help boost the economy of Muslim entrepreneurs. Located in Cyberjaya, Malakat Mall consists of three blocks of four-storey buildings.

(Grocer promoting Muslim Products)

(Lunch at Bunch-Oh Restaurant)

The concept that makes Malakat Mall different from the other malls is the '7 minutes Prayer Break' where traders and visitors are free to pray anywhere in the Mall area.

(Surau at Level 1 and 2)

(Calligraphy on display)

CMCO - No more 10-km rule...

"It feels good to be lost in the right direction..."

(A bright day for a good drive)

It’s almost like driving in the twilight zone.

After being lock down and immobilized for almost three months, we decided to go for a drive to no where in particular. We ended up driving to Kuala Selangor and back, without stopping anywhere  taking the smaller rural roads, avoiding roadblocks.

Following the country’s success in flattening the curve of new Covid-19 cases there is no more the 10-km rule so we could travel further yet there is still the ban for interstate border crossing for now.

(Tall glasses of cendol for the trip)

Post 14-days Quarantine...

"Life is about laughing and living in good and bad times. Getting through whatever comes our way and looking back with a smile..."

(Iwan after the 14-day quarantine)

Iwan and Ella were travelling in a few countries in Europe during the onset of the pandemic. They were lucky to be able to take the flight back to Malaysia from Amsterdam and underwent the compulsory 14-day quarantine. While they were on their Europe trip, their two children Hana and Amir were staying with us. 

On13 March 2020, when the number of new cases became greater than those in China, the World Health Organization (WHO) began to consider Europe the active centre of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were worried on the well-being of Iwan and Ella as cases by country across Europe were reported to be doubled over periods of 3 to 4 days, with some countries showing doubling every 2 days.

As of 17 March, all countries within Europe had a confirmed case of COVID-19. As of 18 March, more than 250 million people were in lockdown in Europe.

And Malaysia followed suit.

MCO - It's now or never...

"In times like these, hope can be a powerful source of reassurance..."

(Fightinģ the Covid Pandemic)

Today the PM announced the implementation of the Movement Control Order for Malaysia.

The CMO is a cordon sanitaire implemented as a preventive measure by the federal government of Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MCO will be effective on 18 March 2020.

Everyone is to stay home and stay safe.

Putramas from dusk till dawn...

"I shall close all my shutters, pull the curtains tight, and build me stately palaces by candlelight..."

(Skyline at dusk)

We were shut like a jacket

So do your zip

We will roll down the rapids

To find a way that fits

Can you feel where the wind is?

Can you feel it through?

All of the windows

Inside this room?