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Netizens Question Govt Decision To Place Quarantined Malaysians In 5-Star Hotels
Earlier this month, the government announced that any Malaysians coming home from overseas would immediately be quarantined at a designated hotel effective 3 April.
Each person will get their own room, have meals sent to their room, and they will not be allowed to leave the room until the 14-day quarantine period ends.
Several Malaysians have shared photos of their accommodation upon their return but one girl received so much flak after sharing her quarantine experience.
Five-star treatment
Twitter user @AisyRumaisha claims that she was sent by the government to stay in Hilton Petaling Jaya upon returning from her vacation in New Zealand on 5 April.She shared photos of her spacious room which comes complete with a bathtub.Dari New Zealand pesawat 5 April harini, pulang ke Malaysia di musim COVID-19, ditempatkan di pusat kuarantin, selama 14 hari yang terletak di Hilton Hotel, PJ.Nak lihat keadaan tempat ini?#malaysiacovid19 #NewZealand #MovementControlOrder #COVID19Quarantine thread pic.twitter.com/H1fN0HCemd— ♚ theflychic (@AisyRumaisha) April 5, 2020
When a netizen asked whether she or the government is paying for the room, she claims that “it’s fully paid by the government including foods and wifi”.
The Instagram influencer also shared that she has been given a health evaluation form and will communicate with the authorities each day via WhatsApp and give them an update about her condition.It’s fully paid by the gov including foods and wifi. Yet foods menu from Hilton still provided in case we want to order something extra. And yes, not allowed to leave the room at all. There's a police presence here 24/7 so you can't obviously just run off.— ♚ theflychic (@AisyRumaisha) April 6, 2020
A lot of Malaysians were very unhappy with this, and claimed that it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money and the government has double standards when it comes to placing those who are returning to the country.
Seronok ya kuarantin free kat hotel 5 stars. Banyak betul duit government. https://t.co/NIIX1HN8px— ▪️ (@yvyvivy) April 6, 2020
Bestnya enjoy the best life overseas,go back home got quarantined at Hilton. The untouchables. https://t.co/8FsQusbStM— tukang karrut (@sinach_z) April 6, 2020
Why can’t people just stay low key? I mean...you get to stay at Hilton then diam je la. Kalau gov bayarkan, masukkan la semua homeless kat Hilton tu. Puta pic.twitter.com/tKrwYHMNtG— Potatogirl (@michelelehhh) April 6, 2020
Kerajaan cuma bayar flat rate RM150 seorang (accomodation and F&B) untuk setiap orang yang dikuarantin.Assuming harga standard room PJ Hilton RM400 satu malam, awek ni kena bayar extra RM250 setiap hari sepanjang tempoh kuarantin.Government TAK BAYAR SEMUA kos, harap maklum pic.twitter.com/yjv88D3a1Q— Asrul Muzaffar?? (@asrulmm) April 7, 2020
Duk hilton tak rasa la macam duk prison and tak risau nak kena sanitize kan. Siap buat thread lagi. Kalau duk kolej dekat nilai tu terus macam prison. Lol. pic.twitter.com/vRt8CnjE3S— meinmokhtar (@meinmokhtar) April 6, 2020
If this is funded by govt, wouldn't it be duit rakyat? Spend on unnecessity lavish which govt could on something elsE like helping L40/B40, frontliners etc and you glamorously portray this to evoke what? How bless u r govt could spend on u instead of helping the poor?— عائشة (@aisha_hairul) April 6, 2020
As one of millions taxpayers in this country, I'll really mad if this place funded by Malaysian government, and using taxpayers money. You should stay at Quarantine center, MAEPS instead. You don't deserve it at all. Pardon me. Good night.— Hdin #DudukRumah #BacaBuku (@HdinHafizuddin) April 6, 2020
Gatai pi bercuti masa musim covid. Balik Malaysia duduk hotel funded by government. Instead of having even an ounce of guilt, she proudly shares this - all in the name of content. Girl, you’re absolutely being tone-deaf here.— Ella (@SaySomethingSyd) April 6, 2020
Those who are quarantined in 5-star hotels like Hilton etc, I hope you realise your privilege. I hope when your quarantine ends, your tests show that you're safe & healthy, and you use that to help the homeless & poor who have been quarantined in stuffy PPRs or dewan orang ramai.— Lim Yi Wei 林怡威 ?? (@LimYiWei4MY) April 7, 2020
However, Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today told The Star that those who wish to stay in five-star hotels will have to bear the costs themselves.Imagine travelling by choice konon2 willing to take the risk yet the government still have to rescue you bring you back bagi quarantine kat 4-5 star hotels.— سكينني جوجو (@arxxxxmand) April 6, 2020
Even if they had the means to do so, they would need to stay in hotels that are only gazetted by the government.
"When we enforced the compulsory quarantine, it was to be adhered by Malaysians returning from abroad as well as foreigners, such as ambassadors and diplomats entering the country.
"Embassies have approached us to allow their representatives to be quarantined at hotels and will bear the full cost of stay for their diplomats.
Ismail added that the government is paying a maximum of RM150 per day per person for their food and accommodation.
Well, something definitely doesn’t add up here. What do you think?
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