KUCHING: With the current movement control order (MCO) heading for the one-month mark and potentially lasting even longer if an extension past April 14 is mandated, Malaysians have to get creative in keeping themselves occupied while staying home.
Marketing strategist Seán Matjeraie, 27, is making full use of the MCO period by investing in self-improvement by reading and taking online courses.
“Staying at home has been a bit of a shock as I am the type of person who likes to be out and moving around ― but it is important to keep motivation and positivity up,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He said that long-term matters such as investments, expenditure, and holidays were disrupted due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and MCO, rather than day-to-day life.
“My understanding of the situation is there will and should be an MCO or some form of it until an actual cure for the virus has been made, and this should be a global consideration ― not just by countries or regions,” he said, pointing out that some countries who had thought the virus was under control had gone through another phase of it.
Project delivery executive Aimi Hafiza, 30, said she was spending most of her time working from home from 9am to 5pm, and filling her remaining free time with home workouts and her cats.
She said her training and gym schedule had seen the most disruption from the MCO ― “My friends and I have been training hard for the Spartan Race and Nepal Everest base camp trekking. Since the MCO, we can’t really train hard, and we are unsure if the race or trek can still go on.”
Nevertheless, she said the MCO period had been going well and she was trying to make a habit of waking up early instead of oversleeping.
Planning executive Emily Rachel, 25, is coping with the MCO by staying positive, keeping busy and spending quality time with her family.
“I fill up my time by doing lots of activities. This includes exercising, watching my favourite movies and video-calling my family and friends to keep in touch. Recently, I have been doing yoga as a new hobby,” she said.
She said she missed going to work and hanging out with her friends on the weekend, though she was of the view the MCO was necessary to ensure the Covid-19 outbreak would not prolong.
Meanwhile, the MCO period for financial consultant Cinthy Yii, 46, is one filled with concern as she is constantly worried about the health of her children, her family and the people around them.
However, she was grateful to be able to spend more quality time with her family, though she missed going out on family outings on Sundays.
“I have been keeping busy ― planning what to cook, buying groceries, playing with my children and doing outdoor activities within the home compound such as badminton and jogging,” she said, while expressing concern over her children’s education during this challenging time.
Chemist Tan Shao Chien, 27, is finding the MCO rather boring and monotonous.
“Usually I would spend my days building plastic models, honing my kendo techniques and watching videos on YouTube,” he said, adding that what he missed most was meeting up and spending time with his girlfriend.
“If the MCO is extended after April 14, this will definitely leave a very deep scar for most business owners and many people will lose their jobs,” he opined.
Product executive Doris Layau, 28, said her job was part of an essential service, so she is working from home during this period.
“However, the MCO has somewhat limited my work routine as I am unable to go out to meet customers,” she said.
She said she had been using the MCO period to improve her personal growth through reading available sources online, while also keeping in touch virtually with her family and friends.
