According to a Sinar Harian report, around 2,000 birds were distributed outside an animal shelter in Presint 9.

Pictures of the congestion, which shows a seemingly endless line of cars and motorcycles have sent chills down the spine of many social media users who raised fears that it could lead to a rise in Covid-19 infections.

Some are even worried that it is the start of a “Chicken cluster” in Putrajaya. The city has recorded 229 cases in the past 14 days, and has been subjected to MCO restrictions for two weeks.

Putrajaya Umno Youth vice-chief Mohd Zushaidey Zulkifli told Sinar Harian that the division had obtained the necessary approvals from the National Security Council and the police.

He said they observed Covid-19 prevention rules and distributed the chicken through a drive-through system.

“Initially, we planned to give each person two chickens each but given the number of people who came, we gave each person only one chicken,” he said, adding they did not expect such an extraordinary response to the programme.

Zushaidey said the programme was aimed at reducing the burden of the people in Putrajaya.

Movement control restrictions have caused the temporary closure of non-essential businesses, with shorter business and trading hours in place, and many employees told to work from home.