Janet’s Oral History, Round 1

● Interviewee is a 64-year-old woman, Chinese, Malaysian.
● She thought the lockdown during COVID-19 was similar to curfew during the 1969 racial riots in Malaysia, and quickly bought food to stock up at home. However, from her experience of stocking up food for years, she realised that there is a lot of food wastage, especially if people stock up on unhealthy food such as instant noodles and canned food. During COVID-19, she decided to only stock up on healthy food.
● She takes care of her uncle who has kidney failure. During COVID-19, it was challenging for her to transport him to the hospital with police road blocks. She also has to source for sanitisers and disinfectant by the litres to make sure his living space is bacteria free so that he can perform his own dialysis at home.
● She was forced to retire early because her employer had to wind up his business during COVID-19. Until today, she relies on her savings to support herself and her uncle.
● She helped a part-time domestic helper during the lockdown when the helper was unable to earn income. She supported this helper financially and by buying groceries for her family.

January 24, 2021

English

Biography 1-2
- Family 5-9, 18, 24
--- Elder brother’s death 7,9
--- Mum’s death 6-7, 9
--- Rubber Estate 5
--- Siblings 6
--- Uncle’s kidney failure 7, 10-11
- Financial Struggles 5-10, 12
- Friends 7, 22
- Senior Citizen 22
- Religion 8
- Unmarried 6, 14

Communication
- News 20-21
- Newspapers 21
- Social Media 20-21

Daily Routine
- Food 4-5, 15-16
--- Panic-buying 4-5, 14
--- Toilet Rolls 14

Home Space 14
- No major change 14

Job
- Company worker 3, 6
--- Employees Provident Fund 6, 10
--- Personal savings 10, 16
--- Retirement 10, 13

Malaysian Government
- Covid-response 18-20, 23
--- Double standards for Ministers 23
- Lockdown 4-5
--- Curfews 4-5
--- Police 5, 8, 11

Memory and trauma
- May 13, 1969 5, 17
- SARS 17

Mobility during pandemic
- Education 19
- Food delivery 12
- Social gatherings 18, 25

Response measures for Covid-19
- Danger of Covid-19 9
- Masking up 11, 18-19
--- Chinese community had better compliance 19
- Movement Control Order (MCO) 3-4, 6-7, 11, 13, 15-16, 19, 21
--- Roadblock 8, 11
--- Travel Bans 4, 18, 21, 24
- Sanitisers 11
- Social Distancing 18-19, 24
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) 20-21, 23
--- Self-quarantine 23
- Vaccine 19

Support
- Buddhist Center 25
- Migrant Workers 25-26