‘It’s all for peace at home’

Hoarders admit stockpiling for their own contentment

PETALING JAYA: From rabbit food to boxes of potato chips, hoarders who confessed to their bulk buying say they did it to have peace at home.

A writer, who only wanted to be known as Mark, said his house had always been well stocked with a specific brand of potato chips and luncheon meat even before the movement control order (MCO).

“So, if we can’t find it during the MCO period, it will be like the end of the world for my seven-year-old son,” said Mark, who is in his 50s.

Thus, he leapt to action just before the MCO was enforced on March 18.

He spent about RM300 on 24 cans of luncheon meat.

Later, Mark bought 24 canisters of potato chips of the brand that his boy wanted, which cost him about RM100.

“I don’t consider it being greedy, because it is not like other essential items such as bread or eggs,” he said.

“But it is a necessity in my household, and if I don’t buy it in bulk, I would have to wait so long when I’m shopping at the supermarket and there may be no stock available.

“For those who are older, we will just shut up and eat whatever we have. But for our children, it may be difficult to explain this to them,” he added.

A woman, who only wanted to be known as Melissa, said she had purchased about RM140 worth of food for her pet rabbit.

“I bought about two months’ worth of rabbit food because it is quite hard to find and it’s expensive if you don’t get shop discounts,” she said.

“Also, the pet stores would not be opened during this time.”

Teacher Jonathan Tan (not his real name) stocked up on snacks he loved such as junk food and ice cream.

“I also bought bags of chips and snacks, along with two quarts of ice cream,” said Tan, 29.

He added that he spent about RM100 for the snacks which, to him, was a type of comfort food during the MCO.

“I have a sweet tooth and I like to munch on snacks,” he said.

Private sector executive Dennis Wong, 39, admitted to stocking up on beer, canned food and instant noodles.

“I got beer because I can’t go to the pub since they are all closed, instant noodles just in case I am too busy to cook and canned food for lazy days,” he said.

“Otherwise, I still go out to get my rations as the supermarket is near my house.”