KUCHING: There is no shortage of Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits (RTK) in the market and thus people should not resort to panic buying.

“Recently, it was said that there is a supply shortage of RTKs. However, perhaps that only happens for a day or two, especially after the recent Chinese New Year celebration.

“But now, there is no longer such issue,” assured federal Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said this at a press conference at Majma Mall on Friday (Feb 25), following his visit to Alpro Pharmacy Satok to inspect the availability of RTKs and face masks there as well as to Al-Aqsa Jewels, Majma Mall to inspect the authenticity of gold.

He said the supply of RTKs in the market was also ensured as KPDNHEP in collaboration with the Health Ministry and Medical Device Authority had approved over 8,000 premises throughout the country to sell RTKs.

“If we only allow pharmacies to sell RTKs, there are definitely too few pharmacies to sell these items. That is why KPDNHEP opened up the opportunity to supermarkets and other shops so that as long as they are approved, these test kits can be found there.”

He said KPDNHEP understood that the surge in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant and also the reopening of schools had resulted in a shortage of RTKs. Nevertheless, he said the situation had returned to normal.

Nanta said there were approximately 18 million RTKs in the market throughout the country.

He also said numerous factories in Malaysia were approved to produce RTKs, adding that the supply was also complemented with imported RTKs from China, Korea, and other countries.

On the retail price of RTKs, he said KPDNHEP had found that these kits were being sold at a reasonable price, with some retailers even selling at prices far lower than the ceiling price of RM19.90.

“We do not limit the ceiling price to be too low, as some people who can afford it wish to purchase the imported RTKs, which are at a higher price. There are also RTKs which are cheaper, even less than RM5 per kit, so that is up to the consumers’ choice.”

He said with the opening up of the economy and borders, it was expected that the demand and use of RTKs would increase.

As such, he appealed to consumers to be prepared with their supply of RTK, but not to panic buy or over-buy.

“In these few weeks, there has been a spike in daily cases due to the Omicron variant and some people have been panic buying.

“We advise consumers not to panic buy and instead to just buy a sufficient amount for their use so that other people can also have their supply.”

Nanta also advised that if the public wanted to complain about supply shortage or unreasonable pricing of goods, they should provide accurate information including the specific location of said shortage so that KPDNHEP personnel can investigate the issue there.

Meanwhile, with regard to the inspection on the authenticity of gold at Al-Aqsa Jewels, he said KPDNHEP had used gadgets to test the gold and the authenticity was guaranteed.