ROARING BUSINESS: Malaysians willing to pay double the price

KUALA LUMPUR: THE ongoing water rationing in the Klang Valley has seen the sales of water containers skyrocketing along with its price.

Many shops had sold out their stocks due to the sudden high demand from consumers.

Serdang resident Sharvinder Kaur,said she had trouble looking for a large container to store water as they were sold out in many places.

“The cheapest was at Jusco shopping mall but they were out of stock. I had to scout around at smaller shops and managed to get a 20-gallon garbage container for RM49.

Rathaa Ulakanathan, who lives in a condominium, said the price of containers had also increased.

“We bought a big container for RM55 and within 10 minutes, the next customer was charged RM65 at the pasar borong nearby.”

She added that the day before the water rationing, she had to rush home after work to do the laundry.

“I am also worried about carrying pails of water up to the 25th floor where we live if the situation persists.”

Eunice Ho from Serdang, who was preparing to face the water rationing, said she ceased to do laundry and used all the empty pails she could get hold of to store water.

“I have also been looking high and low for large water containers as they were sold out at most shops here. The ones that I came across were ridiculously priced,” said the customer service executive.

“It has been raining everyday for the last week or two and I am quite sure the water supply will be back to normal again.”

The sale of used barrels had also picked up following the recent announcement on extended water rationing. An online supplier named Fazli said the 160-litre barrel was the most popular item.

“Sales have gone up and we are selling about 50 to 100 barrels a day. Sometimes a customer orders in bulk and sales will go beyond the numbers.”

He added that the public was still rushing to buy containers even after the price had nearly doubled.

“About a month ago, my price was RM40 for a clean barrel. But due to the increasing demand, it is now RM70.”

Asked if it was ethical to increase prices indiscriminately, he claimed that his price was still one of the cheapest among suppliers.

“Other suppliers have already taken advantage of the water crisis and hiked their prices up to RM90. We are trying to help consumers so they will not be victims of price jacking.”

-NST