EXCLUSIVE: No cause for concerns over community halls in residential areas to be made PKRCs

SHAH ALAM – The soaring Covid-19 cases brought about by the more contagious Omicron variant have prompted the Health Ministry to initiate several reactive measures to contain and mitigate the spread of the outbreak within the community.

The measures include reactivating the Covid-19 National Rapid Response Task Force (RRTF), building field hospitals and activating clinics as covid assessment centres.

While the measures are necessary to combat the pandemic, questions are now being raised about the possibility of public halls being turned into low a Low-Risk Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC), instead.

PKRCs are designed to cater to low-risk Covid-19 patients and locations such as hotels and massive convention centres have been utilised previously for these centres.

However, sources have revealed to Sinar Daily that two PKRCs in Selangor will be activated by utilising public community halls in residential areas.

Surau Al-Bukhary in Laman Glenmarie, located next to Dewan Burgonia. Despite only a single road leading to the hall and away from the nearby gated communities, the surau is often frequented. - Photo by Danial Dzulkifly

One of the public halls, Dewan Burgonia at Laman Glenmarie, Shah Alam is located in an affluent gated neighbourhood.

While the location of the hall is secluded and not directly connected to the adjacent gated communities, with a single road leading towards its entrance, it is located in front of Surau Al-Bukhary, often frequented by Muslims from the surrounding neighbourhood.

The hall, slightly bigger than the size of two badminton courts, is properly fenced and bordered by a small hill that separates it from the Saujana Golf and Country club.

The situation is however slightly different for Dewan Pudina in Denai Alam, another public hall allegedly chosen to be activated as a PKRC.

The view from the public play park adjacent to Dewan Pudina which can be seen behind the tree line. - Photo by Danial Dzulkifly

The hall located along the main road of Persiaran Metafasa is adjacent to a quiet neighbourhood that has a public play park.

The location of the hall is also not far from several gated communities in Bukit Subang as well as densely populated low-income housing in Denai Alam. Denai Alam is also a well-developed area with extensive commercial and residential lots within its township.

A row of homes located in between Dewan Pudina and a public play park. Some residents here have voiced their concerns over the hall being turned into a PKRC but ultimately understand the action by the government to do so. - Photo by Danial Dzulkifly

Both PKRC is expected to be operational from Feb 15.

The proximity of the suggested PKRCs in these neighbourhoods have caused concerns over the possibility of an outbreak within the community.

A Denai Alam resident, who did not want to be named, said children would be playing at the playground and on the streets in the evening.

The elderly, the 33-year old said, would also be walking around and carrying their exercises on the streets near the community hall.

"I understand there is a need for the right space to hold Covid-19 positive patients. Not everyone has the luxury of space in their homes, especially those living with families.

"However, was it necessary for the Health Ministry to choose a public hall in a densely populated housing area?" he said when interviewed by Sinar Daily this morning.

Meanwhile, another resident in Denai Alam, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said while they remain jittery of the prospect being located next to a PKRC, they understand that it was necessary for the government to act in this manner.

"There are always risks but at the end of the day, these Covid-19 patients must be placed safely somewhere," the 50-year old mother said.

In a brief response to Sinar Daily, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said utilising public halls as PKRC in residential areas are not a cause of concern provided all standard operating procedures (SOP) are complied with.

“Follow all the SOP, InshaAllah we can break the chain of infection,’’ he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said this also applied to Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC), hospitals and clinics.

"The virus is already in the Community and we are in the mitigation stage. More importantly, is to have the vaccine and the booster dose.

"That's the key for us to exit the pandemic," he said.

Dr Noor Hisham assures utilising public halls as PKRC in residential areas is not a cause of concern provided all SOPs are complied with.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali also clarified that the decision to activate PKRC is under the jurisdiction of RRTF.

“That will depend on RRTF. They will go investigate and make the decision on how best to combat the pandemic,’’ he told Sinar Daily at the Sinar Karangkraf headquarters during an interview session today.

He said in preparation for the Omicron wave, the Health Ministry has also prepped for 120 Covid-19 ready hospitals with another nine hospitals dedicated for Covid-19 patients, 111 hybrid hospitals and 43 low-risk quarantine and treatment centres, with 10,810 beds available.

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar's office has yet to receive any information on the decision to convert the local community halls into a PKRC.

The RRTF is headed by the minister's deputy director-general (public health) Datuk Dr Chong Chee Keong and deputy director-general (Medical), Dr Asmayani Khalib.