Chong Wei can't wrap his head around toilet paper panic buying

PETALING JAYA: Former national shuttler Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei has related his experience of shoping at a supermarket, two days before the movement control order (MCO) was implemented.

Lee noted that his wife, Wong Mew Choo, gave him a shopping list which included chicken, vegetables, rice, eggs, instant noodles, cooking oil and toilet paper.

He headed to the nearest supermarket and was shocked by the "many aunties dashing into the store with overflowing shopping trollies".

"The anxiousness creeped in as if my first Olympics years ago. Situation was crazy (sic), " he wrote on his Facebook page.

He managed to get everything on the list, except for toilet paper.

"There were people pushing trolleys with 10 bags of toilet paper! How many b***holes one needs to wash with that many?" he asked.

"Magically, a gentle voice from behind greeted 'Lee, you can take this pack. I took two just now and you know I don't use it to wash'," Lee added, noting that the person was his friend Nazir, who lived nearby.

Lee advised his fans that while Malaysians are facing an unprecedented crisis, it is important to store enough food as well as to stay at home.

"Treat (it) as though you yourself are carrying the (Covid-19) virus, don't go back to your hometown to your parents. Stay home! If you don't, your loved ones will die!" he wrote.

Lee added that when Malaysians work together, we would be able to win the war against the pandemic.

"Lastly, my utmost appreciation to the frontliners like doctors, nurses, hospital staff and supermarket cashiers.

"You risk your lives so we can live ours. Chong Wei bows to you guys. Thank you," he wrote.

At the time of writing, the post received over 9,000 Likes and shared over 800 times, with many appreciating Lee's humour.

With the MCO, which is in place for two weeks from March 18 to 31, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has asked the rakyat to stay at home to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The Health Ministry had said that there are currently 790 positive cases as of Wednesday, with two deaths in the country.