KUCHING: The sound of the cool breeze, raindrops, and vehicle engines on the roads can be heard clearly in the city of Kuching.
The city began the first day of the 14-day movement control order yesterday, which will last until March 31.
On a usual day, Kuchingites will flood the streets in their vehicles, going about their daily routine – going to work, sending their children off to school etc.
However yesterday, the lively and vibrant capital city of Sarawak was a little different – the morning was greeted with silence and quiet rainfall, with only a few cars on the road.
Coffeeshops that were usually filled with hungry people enjoying their breakfast of laksa, mi kolok or just roti kahwin were also silent, only opening for takeaways.
For the first time, there was no traffic congestion nor the presence of heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries at the usual heavy traffic areas.
New Sarawak Tribune discovered the difference between two main places in the city – Satok and downtown Kuching city.
In Satok, the public can be seen crowding the area with their cars parked in front of fast food outlets and also in front of coffeeshops opened for takeaways, unlike in downtown Kuching, fewer cars were seen in the centre of the city, but still also visiting coffeeshops.
Under the order, all food businesses are not allowed to have dine-in customers although they can continue to operate.
