PKNS Complex’s concourse has stalls resembling traditional kampung houses with draped songket cloth hanging over the top. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT and AZMAN GHANI/The Star
ONLINE shopping may be all the rage but for some people, physical shopping is still preferred when it comes to Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
At the PKNS Complex in Shah Alam, Selangor, traders are still making good sales, thanks to the steady stream of shoppers.
A trader at a clothing shop Lynda Marianty, 35, said she refused to market her products on social media, unlike some other traders.
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“My designs are exclusive. If people are interested in checking them out and buying, they can shop here in person,” she said.
Although the prices of her products were unchanged from last year, Lynda was optimistic of being able to hit her sales target.
Maulana (left) making sure his customers have a good fit with frequent shopper Mohd Harris (third from left) trying on a traditional baju Melayu there.
“We have maintained suppliers for years,” she said, adding that she had also received some 3,000 orders from customers.
Apart from brick and mortar shops, the complex is also hosting 350 booths selling clothing items and foodstuffs in conjunction with Hari Raya.
These booths operated daily throughout Ramadan from 10am to midnight, with the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) extending operations to 2am on the last two days before the festivity.
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Checks by StarMetro at noon on a recent weekend found it packed with shoppers from all over the Klang Valley.
Mohd Harris, 38, came with his family from Putrajaya to buy baju raya.
Adib and Siti Munirah shopping for their toddler's fourth Raya celebration at PKNS complex.
“I have been shopping here since the early 2000s. This complex is the one-stop centre for all my Hari Raya needs.
“We do shop online occasionally, but for Hari Raya, we prefer to shop physically, which is also a way to spend time together,” he said.
Nur Fadhlina, 25, who was shopping with her mother Noor Aishah, 58, and Amirah Izzati, 21, said she set aside a RM300 budget.
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“My priority is to buy the same colour outfit as my family as we tend to come up with a colour theme during Hari Raya,” she said.
Noor Aishah said she had been taking Nur Fadhlina to PKNS Complex for Hari Raya shopping since she was little.
“We prefer to shop physically as we can put on the clothes and see if they are a good fit,” she added.
Streams of people shopping at PKNS Complex during the last weekend before Hari Raya.
Adib Idham and wife Siti Munirah, both 27, meanwhile, were looking for a baju Melayu for their four-month-old baby.
“Our budget is RM200,” said Siti Munirah.
A trader at one of the booths, Maulana Nasution, 49, however, lamented the increase in stall rental from last year.
He added that the competition to secure a booth was still stiff.
“It is done on a first-come-first-served basis. This year I might get this lot, and next year another lot,” he said.
