When dealing with a crisis, it’s understandable why everyone would want to start stocking up on home supplies to survive for the next few days or weeks. However, during the Covid-19 lockdowns, many were against panic buying as shoppers risk themselves being infected by the virus.
In the event of an emergency, people have always been advised to remain calm but those in Penang were anything but calm when they started panic buying water supplies due to water disruption.
@finazeffendy76 Panic buying 🥲 #penang
Recently, TikTok user @finazeffendy76 posted a video on her channel to show people from Penang panic buying stocks of mineral water bottles at an Aeon supermarket in the Southwest Penang Island District. In the video above, the shelves were almost completely empty as shoppers filled their shopping trolleys with boxes and cartons of mineral water bottles.
It was reported that the chaos was due to the recent water disruptions in some parts of the state. According to The Star, the disruption is caused by the sudden drop in the water level at Sungai Muda which also affected the treated water production at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP). Due to this, the citizens felt the need to have enough water supply in order to survive and keep themselves clean until the matter is resolved.
Netizens reacted to the TikTok post with some comparing the situation to Selangor’s constant water disruptions saying that the people in Penang can learn a thing or two from Selangor citizens. Others commented that the incident reminded them of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Speaking of Selangor, it was recently reported that the state will also be facing water disruptions next Tuesday. In a statement posted on Facebook, Air Selangor announced that emergency repairments will take place which will cause 99 areas in Klang, Shah Alam, and Kuala Selangor are set to face water cuts.
The water supplier added that water supply will be distributed to consumers in stages until the situation is resolved.
