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The destination of choice for RAMADAN buyers in Kuala Lumpur is hands down Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR) and other nearby streets.
Every year, people flocked to shops there to buy traditional clothing and accessories, as well as food items in preparation for Quick Break and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Dozens of shops lining the streets of the area offer the latest fashion every year to attract customers.
However, businesses there have suffered a blow since the Motion Control Order (MCO) was imposed in March.
Even after the conditional MCO went into effect last week, there was still a significant drop in foot traffic in the area as people drifted away from public places.
Clothing store assistant Siti Aminah Abd Karim, 24, said many stores in the Jalan TAR area were now closed at night due to a lack of customers.
“Our store normally opens at 10 am, but the closing hours vary each day, depending on how many customers we receive,” he said.
Although the conditional MCO started on May 4, Aminah said the store opened only three days later because the facilities had to be cleaned and disinfected first.
“We record the details of each customer, such as their name, MyKad and phone numbers. We also check their temperature before allowing them to enter.
“Customers are also prohibited from trying on clothing,” he said, adding that they had no trouble complying with the measures.
Another shop assistant, Zainun Yatimi, 55, said there were no signs of tourists, either, coming from neighboring countries like Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia in previous years.
“There is a noticeable decrease in customers this year. In recent years, stores would be very busy during this time of year, ”he said, hoping that sales will increase as Hari Raya approaches.
Aiman Raziq Osman, 17, who works at a shoe store, said the facility could easily receive around 150 customers the day before the outbreak.
“But after the MCO, the number of clients entering is very low,” he said, estimating only 10-20 clients per day.
He added that the store planned to extend its business hours over the weekend in hopes of making more sales.
A recent StarMetro check revealed that most stores received only a handful of shoppers at noon, according to the list of customers who checked in at the entrance.
Although many venues were open to the public, some remained closed while the pedestrian walkways were noticeably less crowded than before.
Stores in the area clearly observed government guidelines when recording their customers’ details, while colored markers were placed on the floors near the entrances to ensure social distance between customers.
Some facilities had even limited the number of buyers who could enter at one time. Hand sanitizers were also placed at the entrances for customers to use.
Another assistant to clothing store Shawal Sukani, 25, who has been working in the area for two years, said the store has received fewer than 10 customers per day since it reopened.
“Like most stores in the area, we closed our store sooner due to fewer customers,” he said.
To make up for declining customer sales without an appointment, Fakrya Sahmawi, 36, an administrative executive at a clothing store, said they began marketing their products on social media.
“There have been a lot of requests for baju melayu since Ramadan started,” he said, adding that the store experienced a 90% increase in online sales during the MCO.
Meanwhile, inside the Sogo shopping center, pedestrian traffic was modest as employees operated escalators and forced social distance between shoppers.
Parts of the mall were marked with colored arrows on the floor to help regulate foot traffic.
Although the lack of public is a problem for companies, buyers do not complain.
Some of them were enjoying their shopping experience due to the small crowd, saying it gave them peace of mind and more time to decide what to buy.
Izani Abd Rahim, 50, from Ampang, who had arrived around noon to buy headscarves and robes for his family, said he was able to finish his shopping earlier than usual.
“It is important to know what you want to buy and where to buy it, so you do not waste time going from store to store,” he said, adding that he had no problems complying with current security measures.
Although Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be submitted this year due to the conditional MCO, Izani said that he and his family would still wear the outfits he bought to keep the holiday spirit.
Sixty-two-year-old Megawati Hassan, who was seen wearing a mask and mask, said personal safety was essential when shopping.
“I am concerned about the Covid-19 and I want to make sure I have more protection.
“I feel more relaxed shopping this year as there are fewer people and less traffic on the road,” she added.
However, Cheras resident Muhd Mahir Jamal, 20, who was shopping with his wife, said it had taken them longer to find what they were looking for.
“We came here today to buy traditional shoes and clothing, but many stores are closed.
“We had to spend more time deciding between the few options we had,” he said, adding that the couple was used to shopping with Jalan TAR because things were cheaper.
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