Monday 11 January 2021

Oh No! Not Again!

Update : Yup it's the MCO for Selangor again starting tomorrow 13-01-2021 until 26-01-2021. I still haven't lost my last MCO weight (5 kilos, cilaka) and this time round I must  betul-betul impose Mouth Control Order.

Our Prime Minister is expected to make an announcement today on the measures to be taken by the government to mitigate the sharp spike in Covid-19 infections.

When I got the news, I was like, I hope there is no run on the supermarkets at the weekend. After all, we have gone through this before and even back in March 2020 when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was first implemented, there was no shortage of food (or toilet paper).

Surely, we would all take it very calmly and not panic. Well, I was wrong.


On Saturday, I told my partner that as a precaution, we should go to Aeon extra early on Sunday just in case there is a crowd. When we got there before 10:00 am, we saw that a line had already formed outside the basement entrance.

Usually, we are the first ones there (ever since the Covid-19 case at 1 Utama) and that morning there were about 20 people ahead of us.


The supermarket which had until recently been rather quiet and very pleasant to shop in was abuzz with people. Lots of people. Aiya. They behave as if the world will end tomorrow, remarked my partner. 


No one seemed concerned about physical distancing (as usual, never learn, never care) and I was literally dodging people like bullets that morning.


I was super annoyed by those who were strolling slowly and taking their own sweet time, blocking the aisles without a care in the world.


I quickly darted around to pick my things and in my haste, I forgot to buy one or two items. My partner abandoned a head of broccoli because the queue at the weighing station was impossible.


Ooops!! Ngaku! But nobody was making a beeline for them. Not yet anyway.


It was so hard to navigate the floor to pick up items from my grocery list because in every direction, there were people blocking the way. 


While waiting for my partner to pick up a bag of rice, I took refuge between two chillers. That spot was perfect to stay away from people.


We were not fast enough to make it to the payment counters  before others did and had to wait for quite some time in the queue. 

Let's wait for the PM's announcement and see what is in store for us. I expect that it won't be an MCO like before but more a CMCO that is very much stricter. I guess I am cancelling Chinese New Year. Haiz..

23 comments:

  1. Wah, really so many people. On Sunday, I went to the taman desa supermarket as usual at 8.30 am and it was just opening with a queue of ten people entering so I just enter too and quickly grab my things. No q when paying cos the ten people are still taking their time to buy their things. When I walked to my car around 9 am, there was no q to enter the supermarket. Guess it is still early or they all went to Aeon Supermarket instead.

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    1. hah..hah...they did! I did not see crowds at Jaya Grocer @ Starling the past 2 days, so it is good.

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  2. No need to cancel cny. Just celebrate cny at home with your partner, Girl Girl and Belle. Make lots of ngaku crisps and eat while watching Netflix.

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  3. I would turn away when seeing long queue at basement. For sure inside will be jam-packed like sardines if the queue is long at the outside. So far no queue over here too. I read in the news that there is no need for panic buying as we are given 2-3 days to prepare before the lockdown enforcement. These people didn't read/watch news...haih~~~

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    1. I had no choice so had to queue but luckily by the time I got inside, the crowd had not built up yet.

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  4. why cancel CNY? just scale down the celebration will do. Last year's Hari Raya, Deepavali & Xmas were still being celebrated in a simple & modest way, so this year is CNY turn.

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    1. I won't be celebrating, just use the time to just chill out.

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  5. Aeon at 1-U is always full house and popular because of the excellent Feng Shui which is being enhanced by SHC developer every year. Have you noticed that they shift and realign all their main glass doors every year??? Their shark mouth porch is enough to draw you and me to shop there often!

    We have gone through all sorts of MCO, RMCO and should not panic anymore in buying spree.

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    1. Somehow people still kiasu and rush out to buy stuff.

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  6. I've not made any grocery runs...and wouldn't want to make any prior to the announcement for I foresee this exact scenario of people rushing out to buy necessities thus exposing myself to crowded places. Anyway, I don't foresee a total lockdown like before but tighter controls on movement like inter-state & inter-district travel, working SOP, gathering SOP and things like that. I believe markets and eating places will be opened as usual (maybe shortened hours) so buying perishables and tapau-ing food will not be a problem, so no need to rush lah.

    Haha, I think there are no takers for the nga ku coz less demand for nga ku chips means nobody is buying them in bulk to fry to sell + if no interstate travel, those who make their own won't need to make more to give as gifts as there'll be less visiting. This is not only happening to nga ku chips but all other CNY snacks including Mandarin oranges, I believe. If we look around us, there are a lot less people peddling CNY snacks this year coz buyers have no (or less) money to buy/spend. It's sad...but it is what it is! :'(

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    1. Your post title is very apt...oh no, not again...MCO for us here!!! :(

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    2. Yah it is rather silly to rush and grab stuff. Yesterday and today, Jaya Grocer was quite peaceful and I managed to buy some things that I needed.

      Ah, here we go again with MCO. And emergency some more. LOL!

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  7. SO MANY PEOPLE!!!! That is why I avoid those popular supermarts like a plague. I would rather shop at the small shops and grocery stores and mini-markets in the neighbourhood. We can get all that we need or most of it, at least without having to fight with the crowd.

    By the way, there is not a single shallot in the whole of Sibu and not a single bottle of Bovril in stock. Sobsssss!!!!!

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    1. ...and I think I have everything to feast on come Chinese New Year, the reunion dinner and throughout the festival. My freezer is about to explode. I really must get a bigger one. It pays to be well-prepared and besides, they always jack up the prices as the festival draws near.

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    2. Well, good for you that you are well prepared. It will be very low key for me this year.

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  8. wow... panic buying again! I haven't gone to the grocery mall as yet. I normally go to the small wet market near my place to get the necessary, hope it is not so strict in Ipoh here.

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    1. There was no reason to panic but they did!

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  9. Take care and stay safe.

    We went for our grocery shopping last week in anticipation and also something for cny. Luckily over here is CMCO.

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    1. Lucky you. No more dining in at the restaurant sobs!

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  10. I didn't do any shopping before the announcement and I didn't even do my usual weekly grocery shopping too this week. Luckily my meat supply is still sufficient for the next few days but I have to buy my vegetables from mini market in my apartment. LOL

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    1. Actually there is no need to stock up and you did the right thing by staying cool.

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  11. No need to cancel CNY, you can still celebrate at home with your lah-ling and your fur kiddoes, a small celebration is still a celebration.

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