Shoppers throng malls for last day of tax holiday

PETALING JAYA: It was a super busy Friday at shopping malls in various parts of the country as Malaysians grabbed some last-minute deals before the Sales and Service Tax (SST) kicks in.

Some shops even saw customers having to wait for 20 minutes before a salesman could entertain them.

Marketing manager John Ang, who bought a gold necklace as a wedding gift, said he saved almost RM150.

“I was busy earlier. Luckily, my son reminded me that I should shop now. It is the last day before SST kicks in,” he said.

“I think business is so good. I waited for 20 minutes before I can talk to any of the sales personnel. Everyone is busy serving customers. The shop is so crowded,” he said.

A customer, who only wished to be known as Chua, said she bought an air fryer and a rice cooker from an electrical shop in 1 Utama shopping centre.

A salesman known as Wan said business had been very good at the shopping mall since morning.

“Sales have been strong since Hari Raya Haji last week. Televisions and home appliances are the popular items,” he said.

“Some think that after SST kicks in, we can take a rest. But we will still be busy, delivering items to our customers,” he said.

Under SST, a 5% to 10% tax will be imposed on the sale of goods and 6% tax on services.

According to the Customs Department, handphones will be taxed 5% while cosmetic and skincare products, detergent, leather goods, toilet paper, and textile and clothes will be taxed 10%.

A shopper, known only as Mas, said she bought winter clothing and shoes and stocked up on skincare products.

“My daughter will be in London for her studies in two weeks. So, I bought the things she needs,” said the IT company manager.

In George Town, visitors to a home furnishing fair were relieved to hear that exhibitors would be absorbing SST until the end of the event.

Among them was engineer Mohd Fakhirie Abu Bakar, 37, whose shopping list came up to about RM20,000.

“We just bought an apartment in Teluk Kumbar and we need to furnish it,” he said at the fair in Setia SPICE Convention Centre.