On 4 May, the government kicked off the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), which saw the opening of many businesses and the a more relaxed set of rules.
 
Netizens shared photos to show how people are adapting to the CMCO, but there were a few that really struck a sad chord in our hearts.

Sad pictures go viral

Apparently, a lot of Malaysians have been queuing up outside of pawnshops in various parts of the country, with the lines reportedly getting longer as the day progresses.
 
People from all ages and races were seen trying to exchange something valuable to help ease their burden during the CMCO.
 

Sedih je tengok orang beratur panjang kat kedai pajak gadai.

Harap harap tak gadai barang kemas kahwin. ? pic.twitter.com/ZaNYYNpvVz

— Friends of Joni (@_joni_joni_joni) May 4, 2020

Saw the same thing when I went to tapau chicken rice (siew yoke kasi tambah) in Sentul Boulevard. The kedai pajak line was damn long. All ages & ethnic groups.

Working from home, & getting paid for it, is a privilege. https://t.co/jt0I4HYm3q

— Thomas Daniel (@tbd101) May 4, 2020

Tuhan, mudahkan urusan mereka. Hari pertama dibenarkan beroperasi, kebanyakan kedai pajak penuh. Moga baik-baik aja. ?? pic.twitter.com/4qNeby4crB

— Aminahtul Marrdiah (@minmdnor) May 4, 2020

Sumpah sedih bila tengok gambar orang beratur dekat kedai pajak gadai. Ramai yang terdesak sampai terpaksa gadai barang kemas sendiri ?? haish pic.twitter.com/ovNJ6KloV1

— MIGRAINE BUKAN MANUSIA (@IniAlannn) May 4, 2020

Sedihnya tengok orang beratur kat kedai pajak gadai ramai-ramai. Semoga rezeki kita semua diluaskan & financial difficulties semua dipermudahkan ☹️

— iz iz iz (@izdiyani) May 4, 2020

They are pawning their most prized possessions. Don't forget, if they still can't recover their money those possessions are gone. Their heirlooms, their prized items, their memories, all gone.

While our ministers don't go to Parliament and still get paid thousands every month. https://t.co/NVEs2mrCFU

— riv (@_madreeve_) May 4, 2020

Makcik kenapa harini jugak beratur? Tunggu esokkan boleh?

"Ada anak sakit asma. BPN belum dapat, gaji pun dah habis sebab makcik cleaner harian,

Taken around 11.45am today. pic.twitter.com/mfHIyVVDmr

— イリ アキラ (@theiliaqilah) May 4, 2020

sad to hear there’s a long queue in front of kedai pajak ;-(( may god help those were terribly affected by all of this

— a sad star ;-(( (@daluulu) May 4, 2020

I teared up tgk gambar org beratur masuk kedai pajak. I wish I had the power to help everyone. I'm sorry ?

— sze (@ummuainaaa) May 4, 2020

Cerita pajak gadai 1 malaysia ni real weh. Aiu tk pernah nampak org ramai2 kat kedai pajak area rumah aku ni. Hari ni first time ever aku tgk kedai tu ramai org smp ke luar ??

— Njhah (@Njhah42) May 5, 2020

Some even shared stories of why those people were at the pawnshop, and be warned: the stories will break your heart.

Calls to open shops 

In an interview with Malaysiakini, pawnshop owner Freeman Tan says throughout MCO, he has been getting a lot of calls for him to reopen his shop as many are struggling to make ends meet and are desparate for cash.

"Most of the customers who came to pawn their items are those from the low income group who have been greatly affected by the MCO," Tan was quoted as saying.


There were also customers who came back to redeem their possessions as they are afraid that their item will be sold once the pawned item expires.

Being able to work from home and still get paid is truly a blessing and privilege that not many people can enjoy.
 
We hope that things will get better for our fellow Malaysians and they are strong enough to survive through this difficult phase.