KUALA LUMPUR: Although shopping complexes offered discounts in the Malaysia Savings Sale Festival from Nov 29 to Dec 31 last year, Malaysians are said to have adopted a cautious shopping attitude.

Malaysian Retailer Chains Association secretary-general Nelson Kwok said that since the global economic slowdown, which affected the country’s economy as well, people have been looking for “value-for-money” items and only bought necessities.

“So, it was up to the retailers to attract customers by providing them with quality stuff at affordable prices,” he told Bernama here Friday.

He said Malaysians shopped the most during the months of October, November and December.

“People were out shopping for Hari Raya, Deepavali, Christmas and their children’s school supply (during these months).

“After this, come January, the retailers might feel a slight slump,” he said when asked whether there was a decline in retail sale because of the change in the shopping pattern of Malaysians.

Meanwhile, parents interviewed by Bernama said the school expenditure of their children rose annually in tandem with the progress in their level of education.

They said school necessities were something they had to get even in an economic downturn.

Fasazela Tumin, a teacher and mother of five children, three of them school-going, said she rarely bought new school uniform because the old ones could still be used.

Housewife Helen Siaw Kim Fong said she had to buy a new uniform for her only son because he was going to Form One this year. -- Bernama

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