Prime Minister Office Panic buying of groceries
It is natural for people to over-react and to hoard groceries and other essential commodities.

This happens in many countries, including Singapore. Singapore is not unique in this behavior.

The hoarding of these commodities will itself cause shortages and create a real crisis. 

To prevent this outcome, the government should pass an "anti-hoarding law"  This law will state that in an emergency, the government can specify the commodities that are considered as "essential" and the maximum quantity that each household can keep of these supplies, e.g. not more than 14 days of supplies. Any person who is found to be keeping more than the specified quantity will be committing a crime. 

The government should also maintain a stockpile of these essential commodities to give the public the confidence that there is no shortage of these commodities. 

Resale fo these essential commodities in the black market will also be a crime.

The anti-hoarding law does not apply during normal times. It comes into effect only during emergencies and is subject to a declaration by the government.

If there is a real shortage, the government should use an e-coupon system to specify the amount that each household can buy of each essential commodity. The household can only buy these commodities against the e-coupons.

It is better to get such an e-coupon system in place early, in case it is necessary to use it.

PM Lee - I hope that you will adopt this suggestion. 

Tan Kin Lian



 

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