GOASIAPLUS December 2018

LOST & FOUND
Text and photos
FRANCIS YIP
MEMOIRS OF A SHOPPER
Forty years ago, my mother brought me along
to shop in Penang Road. Believe it or not, she
could get the shop assistant to slash more
than half the price or even a five cents discount, a
bargaining skill I could not master even today.
Shopping in those days was easy. There were no
mega shopping malls and hypermarkets but only
supermarkets. I remember when New Market was
opened in Rope Walk, there were long queues of
people wanting to enter the premises.
Today, supermarkets could no longer rival mega
malls. In Penang, the longest surviving supermarket
is perhaps Sui Wah Departmental Store in Air Itam.
MEGA SHOPPING MALLS
The shopping scene in the 90s and new millennium
saw mega shopping malls making waves
nationwide. I was working in Kuala Lumpur back
then, and saw how Bukit Bintang rapidly transform
itself into a shopping belt with Sungai Wang Plaza,
BB Plaza, Lot 10, Fahrenheit (formerly KL Plaza),
Starhill and Pavilion.
There, I could buy the world, from the classic to
the ultra modern and the basic fashion to designer
wear. In fact, Kuala Lumpur was ranked 4th best
shopping city in the world by CNN 4 years ago.
Those were the days I was like the male version of
Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex in the City” drama series
because shopping has become a daily ritual.
In the suburbs and other neighbourhoods that
era, Subang Parade, One Utama and many other
malls were thriving. Today, there are about 560
shopping malls nationwide with total net lettable
area of about 135 million sq ft.
But will these malls survive against our
economic backdrop? Malaysia Retail Chain
Association (MRCA) reported by the end of next year,
Malaysia will have close to 700 shopping malls with
total net lettable area of 170 million sq ft.
ONLINE SHOPPING
While we saw the oversupply of shopping mall
spaces, the trend is also shifting to online shopping.
My friends, especially the Gen Y and millennials love
to order clothes online.
It was reported in www.export.gov, Malaysia has
25.08 million or 79 percent active internet users; 15.3
million or 50 percent online shoppers, and 62 percent
mobile online shoppers.
That is quite astonishing. But for my parents’
generation, user experience is still important. They
want to see, touch and feel what they are buying.
Will I buy jewellery without seeing them for real?
Obviously not.
PASAR MALAM
While some shoppers prefer to shop in comfort,
others like myself love to sharpen my bargaining
skills at the night market or pasar malam. Although
I could not emulate my mother’s bargaining skill, I
love the atmosphere in these night markets, which
usually open once a week in residential areas.
Taman Connaught Night Market is the longest
street market in Kuala Lumpur with 700 stalls
stretching along a two-kilometre road.
Whatever it is, whether it is shopping in the mall,
night market or online, it is still my favourite pastime
activity. The only difference is that I spend lesser
now and no longer call myself the male version of
Carrie Bradshaw.
32 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM
FRANCIS YIP always loses himself but somehow, finds his way back with lots of juicy stories to share. Forgive him if he sparks a debate.
Love him if he unlocks hidden jewels. So heavenly, so travelicious with him!
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