The Malaysian Insight

THERE is no need for a mandated Covid-19 test for visitors or foreigners when entering condominiums or apartments, said several residential building management committee chairmen.

They said this measure should only be implemented if required by the National Security Council (MKN) as part of the standard operating procedure (SOPs).

One of the leaders of the joint management body (JMB) told The Malaysian Insight the committee regarded a test as a recommendation by the NSC.

“The management complied with the instructions and SOP from the authorities, from the ban on visitors entering the building area to the wearing of masks.

“The swab test was not stated. So what we did was on the recommendation of the NSC only,” he said.

The individual who only wanted to be known as Amin also said a test could be mandated if the building residents felt their safety was compromised.

“The swab test was done on the initiative of the building management, as we do not see the risk that requires visitors to do the test.

“But they have to comply with the SOPs before permission is given. For now, we do not allow visitors to enter,” said Amin.

According to him, the ban on visitors entering the area was enforced by the JMB management of the apartment and was informed to the residents through a notice.

The notice also specified no admission of visitors unless for certain reasons.

Amin added even the daily affairs of residents, such as the purchase of daily necessities will require permission from the building management.

This is in line with the NSC SOP, which prohibits any visitor from entering the building area except for certain reasons, such as medical needs and requires building management permission.

NSC also stipulates that visitors who are allowed to enter must comply with SOP such as the use of face masks, physical distancing, and the use of hand sanitisers.

They also need to register the temperature and record through the MySejahtera application at the building control post.

Any renovation activities can only be done on vacant and uninhabited residential premises.

Another JMB chairman who only wanted to be known as Fazli said that his residential area also did not make it necessary to test foreigners for Covid-19.

The move was seen as unnecessary, he added, however they complied with NSC’s basic SOP.

“We have two stairways and we mark which stairs to go up and down, in addition to the usual SOP compliance.

“There is no need for us to test foreigners, there is no need for that,” said the chairman of the apartment in Subang.

They commented on the confusion which arose when Senior Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the management of residential buildings could make the Covid-19 test mandatory.

Opposition politicians, residents committees, lawyers and even the public saw it as a move that would cause a lot of trouble.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil urged the authorities to review this as the residents will have to bear the cost of the test.

DAP MP Hannah Yeoh also said it would be inconvenient for the residents because it was not done based on scientific methods as the residents always went in and out of the area.

Following the objections raised by Fahmi and Yeoh, Ismail Sabri accused them of being spokesmen for foreigners.

The NSC also issued a statement explaining that there is no policy requiring anyone who enters a condominium or any residential area to undergo a test first.

It also explained it is up to the management of the condominium or any residential area to implement the conditions.

Condominiums and closed apartments are private areas where management can make rules within their areas, said the NSC. – January 31, 2021.