Higher prices for all: Visitors checking out Christmas decorations and gifts at a mall in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Business is booming in Johor with Singaporeans crossing the Causeway for their festive shopping, but this has caused prices to spike, leaving locals in the lurch.
Johor Consumers Movement Association chairman Md Salleh Sadijo said Singaporeans coming over to spend their money was good for the economy, but it has caused inflation that has affected Johoreans, especially those living in and around the city here.
“The Singapore dollar is much stronger than our own currency — prices here are going up, but this is still cheap to Singaporeans.
“When they go to the markets here to buy groceries, they buy in bulk as it is a bargain for them, but locals do not have their spending power,” he added.
Md Salleh said irresponsible traders would also take advantage of Singaporeans by hiking up their prices, leaving local consumers in a tight spot.
Whether they like it or not, they have no choice but to fork out more money.
“Eating or dining out in Johor Baru is much more expensive when compared with other districts in Johor,” he said, adding that the government should look into the matter seriously as it was becoming a burden to locals.
Business owner June Choong, 65, who has a shop selling festive decorations, said business has been good since last month, with many Singaporeans coming over.
“Sales have increased by about 50% this year compared with last year as the border was reopened months before Christmas.
“On top of that, we have also started receiving sales for Chinese New Year,” she said when met at her shop here in Taman Sentosa.
Lilian Koh, 65, who also has a business selling festive decoration, said she was glad to see a large crowd from Singapore coming back again for their Christmas shopping.
“Every year, I set up a booth selling Christmas gifts and decorations in malls at the city centre for about one month,” she said, adding that about 70% of her customers were Singaporeans.
Johor Tourist Guides Association president Jimmy Leong Wei Kong said that Singaporeans were crossing the border not only to shop for Christmas celebrations but also for Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan 22 next year.
“Shopping tours are getting more popular – a single tour bus can ferry between 25 and 30 Singaporeans.
“They are really good spenders, which is good for the local economy,” he said, adding that besides malls around here, they would also visit nearby districts to buy traditional cookies and cakes to bring back home for Chinese New Year.
Johor Indian Business Association president P. Sivakumar said the tourism and retail sectors were seeing a boom.
“We are seeing major improvements, but the government should further strengthen our tourism industry to attract more foreign tourists into the country as Malaysia has the advantage of having a diverse society and rich culture.
“The tourism sector will play a major role to help cushion the global recession and inflation, which is forecasted to happen next year when it would be a more challenging time for us,” he added.
