Penang Supermarkets See Empty Shelves On 10 Mar Due To Panic Buying
As the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise in Malaysia, the island of Penang reported its first case of the new coronavirus on Tuesday (10 Mar) — a Motorola employee.
In response to the discovery, Penangites chiong-ed to supermarkets on the same day to stock up necessities, very much like Singaporeans when the DORSCON level changed to orange.
S’poreans Are Wiping Out Basic Supplies From Supermarkets In Panic After DORSCON Orange Alert
Toilet paper, in particular, was an extremely hot commodity among customers.
Shoppers wipe Penang supermarkets clean of basic necessities
According to Malaysian news site Oriental Daily, the panic buying started even before Malaysian health authorities made an official announcement about the new case.
Penangites apparently caught wind of the news via social media where rumours were circulating.
On Tuesday (10 Mar) afternoon, panic buyers wiped supermarket shelves clean of groceries and necessities.
Toilet paper was visibly popular among them. An entire section of toilet paper was cleared when Oriental Daily reporters went down.
Instant noodle, perhaps due to its long shelf life, was also a hit among panic buyers.
Other equally long-lasting food like biscuits also fell victim to their desperation.
Expectedly, disinfectants were also not spared, as seen by the vacant shelves reported by China Press.
Penang’s first Covid-19 case was close contact of another patient in KL
While Malaysia has recorded close to 130 cases of Covid-19 patients to date, the state of Penang only reported its first on Tuesday (10 Mar).
The patient in question is an engineer at telecommunication company Motorola.
The employee reportedly came into contact with another Covid-19 patient in Kuala Lumpur recently and is likely to have been infected through the meeting.
Panic buying only adds to the anxiety
While it’s understandable for Penangites to feel worried when someone from the same state tests positive, there’s no need to resort to panic buying.
Doing so will only add to the level of anxiety, making everyone feel unease during this ongoing battle against the new coronavirus. It also robs others – especially the old and weak – of the chance to get the necessities they need.
We hope the Malaysian government will do something soon to calm things down in Penang. This clearly isn’t the way to go.
Featured image adapted from Oriental Daily and Facebook.
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