Buying into the Frenzy

Being the undaunted mall rats that we are, Friday evening was allocated to lounging in KLCC shortly after digesting our victuals and performing Maghrib prayers. The journey there however proved to be longer than expected since the KLCC’s entrance via AKLEH (Ampang-KL Elevated Highway) was closed off for reasons unknown to self-proclaimed urbanites like us.

We only entered the Jalan Ramlee’s entrance close to 9 p.m. and were shocked to find the parking areas were full with automobiles at such late hours! Some people had even haphazardly parked at non-designated parking spaces – the way ingenuous Malaysian drivers always do – as long as their newly created spot gives others in the vicinity barely enough room to maneuver out of their legit spots. We scoured for an empty lot before settling into one which was considered off our beaten track. Sadia had napped (if you could call it as one) from the car so we were relieved to sit down in San Francisco Coffee for some quiet downtime.

As parents to a hyperactive toddler, moments like this do not come very often and must be savoured in its entirety. With the back of my neck resting comfortably against the soft texture of the ample booth and eyelids half-closed, I gazed at passersby whose number seemed unabated even nearing the closing time. What possessed them to still descend into KLCC at these odd hours? Have all of them, God forbid, become mall rat extraordinaire?

Turned out, the Isetan three-day special anniversary sale starting that day was the source of fixation for overzealous buyers. I had received the flier (Na, I sincerely hope it’s printed on recycled paper! ;) ) on the aforesaid sale but upon suspecting it would be just another sale, put it aside after skimming the pages. It didn’t occur to me that it’d be the mother of all sales that even convinced the KLCC management to close one of their main entrances.

From the looks of it, people were rushing like mad to grab on to any bargains that tickled their fancy. I must compliment Isetan and other customer-savvy establishments for their smart thinking and putting up a sale that caters to Muslims’ Raya preparation. The atmosphere, buzzing and frenetic, vividly recalls, of all things, the late night Christmas shopping in Den Hague (The Hague). In Holland, shops close as early as 5 p.m. during the weekday and save for the big cities, most are not open on Sundays in line with the recommended rest day. However, contrary to popular beliefs, the Dutch know how to have fun and relax the rules come the holiday seasons – be it winter or summer. Shops stay open as late as midnight – unheard of in this side of the continent – enabling customers to shop to their hearts’ content for SinterKlaas day and Christmas.

Back to the home ground, with the exception of the infamous and ever bustling Jalan TAR which is open for business right up to the morning takbeer of Raya, I haven’t come across any other which capitalises on this mammoth-size buying frenzy happening during Ramadan.

If the malls (or renown departmental stores) would provide a special day to help the average citizens in their inexhaustible search for the essential Raya kit – traditional (and modern) clothes for the adults (and children), kitchenware, furniture and fittings – they would be in for a very profitable treat. However, bearing in mind the religious significance of Ramadan, the proposed day can either take place a week prior to it or within the first week of the Holy month. The beauty of this arrangement is that people can drop by after their terawikh prayers and even enjoy their moreh at a nearby favourite café. How nifty is that – to be able to kill two birds with one stone?

As for the opponents under the banner of wastage, I ardently feel it is such a gratifying experience to spend a tangible something on loved ones on such a joyous, annual occasion like Eid. Rather than splurging unnecessarily for the rest of the year, Eid is the most opportune time to lavish them and reinforce the importance of family. By the by, our economy would also greatly benefit from this domestic spending. Don’t you just love all these spillover effects? See, that’s more like killing four birds with one pebble. Or, is that five birds worth? All this talk about birds sure does whet one’s appetite. Burung puyuh goreng* anyone?


*Deep-Fried Quail.