Trader: Worst Chinese New Year sales since 1975

 

A man looking at boxes of mandarin oranges at a shop in Alor Star yesterday. -BERNAMA pic

ALOR STAR: Despite Chinese New Year being just around the corner, businesses here have seen none of the usual rise in sales.

The Movement Control Order (MCO), business owners claim, has instead led to sales dropping by around 50 per cent.

Checks in Pekan Cina here found that although customers were still buying the necessities for the Chinese New Year celebrations, the mood was noticeably subdued compared with past years.

Seow Kong Chat, who owns Kong Hwa, a prayer items retailer in Pekan Cina, said this was his worst year in business since he opened his shop in 1975.

"Normally by this time, most of the items would already be sold out. This year, the business has been very slow, the worst since I started my business here.

"The MCO's standard operating procedures are definitely part of the reasons. We have to limit the number of customers and the inter-district travel ban is also a huge factor.

"Many of my customers could not come because they live in areas more than 10km away, such as Changlun, so they need to opt for a shop nearer to their homes.

"Even so, my customers have told me that they will be buying fewer items this year," Seow said yesterday.

Seow added that he ordered fewer items this year as he had expected this situation.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Tuesday announced that the MCO, which was scheduled to end on Feb 4, would be extended to Feb 18.

Ismail Sabri also said the government was preparing the SOP for Chinese New Year, which would fall on Feb 12.

Goh Hock Yam, who runs the Loo Seng Fruit Store, said this year's sales dropped by about 50 per cent.

"I expected this due to the implementation of the MCO and inter-state travel ban. So I ordered 30 to 40 per cent less oranges this year.

"But even with that reduced amount, business is not picking up. Usually, two weeks before Chinese New Year, business is booming.

"I believe one of the reasons is that many people are not in a good financial condition compared with previous years due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and many people are not coming out to shop for fear of the coronavirus," he said.

"Also, with the inter-state travel ban, consumers will buy less this year as their children who are working outstation cannot return home for the celebration."

Covid-19 has also taken a toll on Ban Tong Choon Sdn Bhd, which sells Chinese New Year dried and canned foods, decorative items, as well as hampers.

Its worker, who only wanted to be known as Teoh, 68, said the 60-year-old shop was badly hit by the pandemic.

"There are very few walk-in customers. Many items are still in the store.

"We are hoping that business will return to normal after the vaccination programme rolls out." - NST