Many still complacent about anti-H1N1 measures

(The Star) – Although the influenza A(H1N1) is sending chills down many spines, a large number of Malaysians do not seem to care much for precautionary measures.

In KL Sentral, where large numbers of people gather, more than half of them were not wearing masks.

Salesgirl Nik Nur Ain Hamid, 20, said she did not wear the mask because it made breathing difficult.

“Customers also find it hard to understand what I am saying with the mask on,” said Nik Nur Ain who sells costume jewellery at a kiosk in KL Sentral.

Nik Nur Ain said, however, she did wash her hands frequently and always sneezed into tissue paper.

Secretary Ong Chia Chia, 26, said she did not use a mask because there were no reported A(H1N1) cases near her residential area in Shah Alam. Ong claimed the situation was not that serious in Malaysia.

“I usually travel by car and that is why I do not wear a mask,” she said, adding she was at the terminal to meet a friend.

However, she carries a hand sanitiser and uses it frequently.

A paramedic, Ahmad Zainy Razali, 40, said he was not taking any chances and had insisted that his wife and three children wear masks when they go out.

“Many are not wearing masks although the level of awareness is high,” he added.

S. Shamala, a Masters student from Universiti Putra Malaysia, said she had been using the mask daily for a month. She did not think spending RM1 a day was too much as it protected her life.

At the Taman Tun Dr Ismail ramadan bazaar, a survey found very few customers donning face masks.

None of the stall operators and assistants were seen with masks.

Stall owner Dafrun Rasyan, 40, said wearing a mask was not practical for business as customers could not hear him clearly in the noisy environment.

Housewife Salmah Md Dubi, 55, had started to wear the mask in public places after recovering from a fever a few days ago – just to be on the safe side.

In contrast, at the Kampung Baru ramadan bazaar in Kuala Lumpur, many of the stall owners and their assistants wore masks, and some were seen wearing gloves as well.

At the entrance of the bazaar, Azizul Mu’min and his friend made brisk business selling two-ply masks at 80 sen per piece.

They managed to sell 200 pieces within an hour.

Mu’min, whose day job is as a marketing executive, even wore a “Prevent Influenza A (H1N1)” black T-shirt to attract customers.

A trader, who only wanted to be known as AP, said he wore a mask and gloves because it’s “better to be safe than sick, or worse, die.”

Consumer Mohd Norazrin Ariffin, 24, a designer, said he would wear masks at crowded places such as the commuter trains.

“I also wash my hands more frequently. When I sneeze, I also cover my mouth and turn my head away,” he said.

Yuslina Mohd Yusof, 24, meanwhile, said she had self-quarantined herself for three days when she caught a fever.

“We must all play a part to prevent the virus from spreading. What we do can affect the whole nation,” said the supervisor.