M'sia cinema covered in mould after nearly 2-month lockdown

Shudder.

Mabel Wong | May 13, 2020, 02:14 PM

Earlier this week, leather goods left in a Malaysia mall during the Movement Control Order (MCO) were found mouldy.

And now, it seems like another place in Malaysia has seen a mould infestation as well.

In a Facebook post shared on May 12, one Chong Andy shared pictures of a cinema hall with its seats and floors infested with white mould.

Translation:

"The seats in the cinema have all turned mouldy."

Here's what it looks like:

Photo from Chong Andy FB

Photo from Chong Andy FB

Photo from Chong Andy FB

Photo from Chong Andy FB

According to Malaysian news outlet China Press, it wasn't stated which cinema the photo was taken at, but people have speculated that it is located in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Where did it come from?

There could a few reasons as to why mould would grow in the cinema, such as:

  1. The seats have eroded, leaving the mould to grow from within the chairs.
  2. The cinema hasn't been in use or cleaned for a long period of time, which makes sense due to Malaysia's lockdown.
  3. Poor ventilation, high humidity

Some have also reasoned that the seats and floors collect dust and bacteria, causing the mould to grow.

Malaysian news site SAYS has reached out to five cinema operators in the country, four of whom have responded to confirm that the photos are not of their cinemas.

The last, mmCineplexes, has yet to reply to the media outlet.

Mould detrimental to health

Inhaling or touching mould spores can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash.

It can also cause asthma attacks.

Mould can especially affect the following people:

  • Babies and children
  • Elderly people
  • People with existing skin problems, like eczema
  • People with respiratory problems, like asthma
  • People with a weakened immune system, such as those going through chemotherapy

Top Image from Chong Andy/ FB.