Quiet streets, empty stores mark this year’s ‘Raya shopping’ period

A woman tries on the baju kurung at a near-empty store in a wholesale mall in Kuala Lumpur. Many are foregoing spending on new clothes which they would typically spend during the Raya shopping boom.

KUALA LUMPUR: In the nights leading up to the biggest Muslim festival of the year, the roads of Kuala Lumpur are quiet.

Gone are the teeming crowds of shoppers that usually throng the streets of the capital before the Eid al-Fitr, a day Muslims around the world celebrate after a month of fasting.

Instead, many are opting to buy their essentials like food online and foregoing spending on new clothes and furniture, which they would typically purchase during this shopping boom period.

The pandemic and measures aimed at curbing infections have battered this year’s Hari Raya retail sales in Malaysia and Indonesia, home to the bulk of Southeast Asia’s 240 million-strong Muslim population.

An oil lamp formation outside a government quarters in Kuala Lumpur reflects the Hari Raya mood in the city, where millions are unable to celebrate in their hometowns.

In Indonesia, where the Eid festive season counts for nearly half of annual revenue, retailers are seeing sales fall by almost 90%, while their Malaysian counterparts estimate an 80% drop.

“The mood is very down as people are cautious of the virus,” said Garry Chua, president of the Malaysian Retail Chain Association.
Most retailers haven’t reopened all outlets despite the government easing movement curbs since May 4, as many are struggling to pay bills and wages with fewer customers.

“If people aren’t on the streets, how to open outlets?” Chua said.

At Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the few shops that are open attract little foot traffic.

Two masked youths stand by the entrance of a garment store, temperature scanner in one hand and a pen in the other, as they take down the details of customers who trickle in.

In any other year, the streets would be teeming with shoppers squeezed between rows of stalls selling colourful clothing and roasted peanuts, with sellers blasting discounts and festive music through crackling speakers.

Domestic expenditure contributes more than half of Indonesia and Malaysia’s gross domestic product, making the two countries heavily reliant on consumers. Already, the economies of both nations are seen contracting in the second quarter as this key pillar of growth falls away.

Malaysians like Ain Aqilah Razak, 30, are foregoing the entire retail experience of Eid.

She’s staying home with her family in Kuala Lumpur while counting herself lucky that she can get groceries delivered and that her parents are great cooks.

This year, she said she’s skipping on everything else “but the food”.

“Can’t skip on the food.”

Hari Raya traditionally stretches out for a month in Malaysia, as families gather for reunions and share food, posting happy photos on social media in their new finery.

This year, restrictions on travel and group gatherings are putting a dampener on celebrations across the region.

In Indonesia, major cities like the greater Jakarta area and other provinces home to about 100 million people have imposed large-scale social distancing rules, which includes closing shopping malls and places of worship.

Retailers now have to rely on just 5% to 10% of their usual sales through online platforms, said Roy Mandey, chairman of the Indonesian Retailers Association.

Safe from coughing crowds, grimy fingers and movement restrictions, online stores are gaining in popularity.

PT Mitra Adiperkasa, the Indonesian operator of global brands such as Zara and Starbucks with over 2,500 lifestyle retail stores, is focused on e-commerce as malls are shut, said corporate secretary Ratih Gianda.

Asian online fashion platform Zalora says it’s seen consumer interest rebound after an initial slump in sales when news of the virus first spread.

In the fasting month, the company said it saw sales rise for modest wear clothing.

“With movement restrictions in place, we are pleased to be able to give customers the option of ready-to-wear for their Raya purchases, as we are able to deliver directly to them with ease and in full security,” Giulio Xiloyannis, Zalora’s chief commercial officer, said in an email.

Still, online stores may not replace the brick-and-mortar environment that encourages more spending.

“Impulse buying or unplanned purchases usually happens because customers visit the stores and it usually accounts for 40% of modern retail transactions,” said Mandey of the Indonesian retailers group.

“But now, customers tend to buy only basic needs, so impulse buying doesn’t happen.” He sees overall sales growing 3%-4% in Indonesia this year, compared to 8.5%-9% last year.

Basic needs usually translate to food, not new clothes, but even those essential goods may register a drop compared to previous years.

Pramudhito, 38, usually spends a good part of his Raya bonus from his teaching job in Jakarta to buy several kilogrammes of wheat flour, butter, sugar and jam to prepare cookies for visitors during the festival.

This time, he wants to put his bonus into his savings account for any emergencies.

With no visitors expected this year, he plans to celebrate Eid with just his wife and nine-year-old child.

“There are only the three of us at home,” said Pramudhito, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. “There’s no reason to spend.” - FMT