Frustrating Long Wait At Airport For Sabah Returnees

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Sabah returnees sporting pink wristbands after taking the Covid-19 swab test at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 this evening. - NSTP/EIZAIRI SHAMSUDINKUALA LUMPUR: Passengers who arrived at airports here from Sabah were frustrated as they had to wait for hours to take the Covid-19 swab test.
One of them is Arina Rashid, who has been waiting at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) since 6.30pm.
The 32-year-old e-commerce associate had returned to her hometown to vote in the Sabah election.
"I am frustrated and tired, they are now clearing the batch before my flight. There were no proper instructions and guidelines upon our arrival. The situation is messy. We were only told to wait in one of the boarding gates then it was silence for hours and no follow up from marshals or the people in charge.
"We were given water and buns the first hour. Everyone is angry, especially those with the elderly and young children," she said.
A 30-year-old who only wanted to be known as Mag, earlier said she had to wait at the holding room for five hours for her turn. She has since completed her swab test.
"The situation was a bit hectic and a little disorganised. I'm thinking they might not have anticipated the high number of people coming back today. There were no clear lines or indication where to queue.
"My flight landed at 4.40pm. Overall, I was at the airport for six hours. We were held at the gate for about an hour before we were given the declaration form which caused another drama.
"The staff carried with them about 10 forms and had to go back and forth to top up the declaration forms. We complained that they should have taken more, but they told us this was the procedure," she said.
The associate manager said other than the long waiting time, other processes went well.
"The rest of the procedure went well. The hold-up was due to the interview session after the swab test. At KLIA, they only had about six to seven counters open when we had to wait for at least two flights of passengers ahead of us," she said.
Another passenger, Nastassja Nicolette Mojitoh, 31, has been waiting at the KLIA since 9.30pm.
"Currently everyone is anxious due to the waiting. We are wondering when will it be our turn to go out. I am worried for the old people, kids and babies here.
"I can't do anything much about it. The frontliners are trying their best to speed things up," the government agency's senior executive said.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry (MoH) via its social media accounts said it has added staff at KLIA and klia2 to conduct tests on passengers arriving from Sabah.
MoH director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that individuals returning from Sabah from Sept 27 to Oct 10 must undergo mandatory home quarantine.
He said they would also be subject to compulsory Covid-19 health inspection and screening activities upon arrival at the country's entry points in the peninsular and Sarawak.
These, he said, were crucial to contain the spread of the virus following the recent spike in cases in the state which had led to community transmission in West Malaysia. - NST

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