Shoppers hunt for bargains
Many throng malls to buy new clothes and cookies
KUALA LUMPUR: Saloma’s evergreen tune Selamat Hari Raya says it all, miskin kaya memakai baju baru warna-warni (rich and poor in colourful new clothes).
So, the malls are packed with shoppers looking for new outfits to wear for the coming Hari Raya celebration.
Court technician Mohd Hadzrul Husin, 30, said he only just bought his baju Melayu because he was waiting until the end of the month to ensure he had the budget for it.
He was at a shopping centre with his wife Norirdawani Zahari, 27, and two children, aged 10 months and five years.
“Although the discounts are higher the day before Raya, I don’t like the crowds and scrambling for the bargains, especially when I’m shopping with my wife and kids,” he said.
Abdul Mu’im Nazir, 16, was among the 70-plus students from Sekolah Agama Persekutuan Kajang given free baju Raya by Jakel Mall.
Although his family always made it a point to get new clothes for the celebration, he said he was grateful for the gift because his family was not well off.
A check at several malls, as well as the stores along Jalan Masjid India and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, showed that business was brisk, even on a weekday. Many families were shopping for clothes and cookies.
Snack food store keeper Zolkainin Che Ama, 58, said traditional kuih such as kuih bangkit and dodol were the best sellers, besides pineapple tarts and almond biscuits.
His store has many loyal customers, some of whom come from as far away as Brunei, he said.
He said sales picked up in the past two weeks because the Hari Raya was near.
Also, thrifty shoppers were waiting for Raya sales or last minute promotions to maximise their savings, he added.
Clothing store owner Muhd Nashahrudin Nasir, 28, said sales for him were slower this year compared to last year, with fewer walkin customers. But he was happy with the amount of custom-orders he received.