BREAD and eggs are the most sought-after items, a week into the movement control order (MCO), said trade associations.

Social media is full of people complaining that eggs are difficult to find while bread is sold out in many places.

Bread maker Gardenia said it is operating at full production capacity and no longer able to increase supply.

Malaysian Bakery, Biscuit, Confectionary and Mee Merchants Association president Lai Yee Kein told The Malaysian Insight that it is facing a tight supply of bread, but the problem is not production but transport.

He said drivers are afraid to work because of the coronavirus outbreak.

“If they don’t want to deliver, do we force them? From a humanitarian standpoint, the industry cannot force them,” Lai said.

He said the other reason is that Malaysians have changed their breakfast habits. They used to eat noodles in the morning, but many coffee shops are closed so they switched to bread.

“Usually, people have a diverse selection of food but some food shops are choosing to suspend business. Everyone is left without many choices so they snap up bread, causing a shortage in supply.”

Gardenia issued a statement yesterday urging the people to buy only as much as they need.

Lai believes that if the MCO were to be extended, the supply of bread will decrease.

“As for the extent of the impact, we have no way to estimate it. We can only say that manufacturers may produce as usual, and eventually they will face the problem of no delivery.”

Another major producer, Massimo Bread said in a statement it was running at full capacity but due to high demand, supply is quickly depleted.

The MCO was implemented by Putrajaya to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus which has so far caused 16 deaths and infected 1,624 others in Malaysia.

The two-week MCO ends on March 31 but Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said the government could extend it if the situation does not improve.

Meanwhile, the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Egg Dealers Association president Low Hin Ching admitted that there is a shortage of eggs, so prices had to be raised.

He said people are now certain to buy eggs when they go out to buy vegetables.

He said the retail price of big eggs will rise slightly above 40 sen after this week, but this is due to the high demand and the price will drop when things are back to normal

“The egg dealers have no choice but to accept it because it is the only way to ensure a supply of eggs.”

On complaints about the shortage of eggs in supermarkets, he said urged people not to worry as it was inevitable that the item should be sold out as more people were now cooking at home. – March 25, 2020.