SHAH ALAM: Bottled drinking water are flying off the shelves as water disruption hit Klang Valley, despite supply slowly resuming.
Checks at several hypermarkets, and convenience stores, here, found shelves bare where bottled water once sat.
At a hypermarket in Section 13, customers who came around noon were greeted with a completely empty bottled water aisle.
One customer who declined to be named, said the sundry shop near his house had also run out of bottled water.
Checks at another hypermarket located nearby, however, found that the 1.5 and 5.5-litre bottles were being replenished. It was snapped up fast by customers, who went straight to the bottled water aisle as soon as the store opened at 8am.
Nurul Farhana Abdullah, 33, said she bought many bottled water for drinking.
"I still have stored water at home, but it will be used solely for cooking, bathing, and washing."
The private sector worker said she came to the hypermarket last night to purchase bottled water, but left empty-handed.
"I was told that it will be replenished today, so I came here as soon as the store opened."
Government servant Noraida Haroun, 59, said none of her family members were at home when she came across the news of unscheduled water disruption on Thursday.
"We don't have enough stored water and are left with no choice but to buy bottled water."
She said a supermarket near her house in Section 15 also ran out of bottled water when she went there last night.
"I couldn't get any as there were too many people buying bottled water," she said.
A check at a convenience store in Section 2 also saw bottled water being restocked.
"We just restocked it this morning, and will be getting more later," said the store assistance.
Meanwhile, a local retailer when contacted said they have sufficient stock of bottled water and will continue to replenish the product at all their stores.
"The customers may find it unavailable temporarily due to high demand as these bottled water flew off the shelves as soon as we replenish it.
"It is expected that customers are buying more than needed, as it was reported that it would take at least four days for water supply to be fully restored.
"(But) rest assured that we are working hard to replenish the stock from our distribution centres to fulfil the high demand.
"There is enough bottled water for everyone."
7-Eleven Malaysia marketing general manager Ronan Lee when contacted said it too had sufficient stock of bottled water for the affected areas.
"(And) we are arranging for more stock as we speak to ensure consistent supply."
He said 7-Eleven is also not imposing a limit on the purchase of bottled water at all its stores in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason when contacted said it has yet to receive complaints about shortage or overpriced bottled water.
"The issue right now is on the water crisis and not bottled water per se.
"Bottled water is sufficient everywhere and there is no such thing as panic buying."