SUPERMARKETS in George Town, Penang were packed with last-minute shoppers on Tuesday (April 9) night ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Wednesday (April 10).
Among them were housewife Norizzati Idrus, 25, and her husband Khairol Hafizi, 28, who bought cartons of boxed drinks and food containers.
"We have just tidied up our house in Paya Terubong and made preparations to welcome friends and relatives who will be visiting. These are items that we are short of," she said when met at a Penang Road supermarket
Nurse Azizah Abdul Rashid, 38, was seen wheeling a cart full of food and household utensils. “I finally found time to shop as I was tied up with work for the past weeks.
"All these items will be used during the festival. Although it seems like late preparation, we are looking forward to a joyful celebration," she said.
Supermarket manager Muhamad Emirol Ashraf said a surge in shoppers had been seen since Friday (April 5).
"Many of them bought clothes, cookies and disposable cutlery. The last-minute crowd is about three times more than the usual number of shoppers here," he said.
Across the road, a trader at Penang Bazaar lamented that business had been slow.
"I've traded here for the past 20 years and each Hari Raya, we would see good crowds looking to buy new clothes.
"This year, I stocked up on goods and maintained prices, but business has been slow," said the man, who declined to be named.
For bazaar regular and retired factory operator Bibi Jamal, 63, however, the bazaar is attractive for the variety of reasonably-priced clothes on sale.
"Here, there are dozens of stalls selling clothes, so there are more varieties to choose from than at a supermarket.
"I can feel and try the clothes before buying. My parents used to bring me here as a child and I'm here by myself now," she said.
It was also found that almost all nasi kandar outlets in the state will be closed on the first and second day of Hari Raya, Wednesday and Thursday (April 10 and 11).
