KUALA LUMPUR – Embracing the second day of the Lunar New Year, the city pulsates with an extra dose of vitality as residents and visitors alike seize the long weekend to revel in quality time with family and friends, especially at popular shopping malls.
Prominent shopping destinations, including the iconic Pavilion KL in Bukit Bintang and the newly unveiled Plaza The Exchange at TRX, witnessed a surge in consumer footfall.
Bukit Bintang was teeming with a diverse assembly of locals, tourists, and foreign workers, all converging for a dual delight of carefree shopping and dining experiences at trendy restaurants that dominate conversations on social media.
Pavilion KL, known for its exceptional festive decorations, beckoned with an Instagrammable allure.
The mall’s main entrance, bedecked with a colossal mock-dragon centrepiece, captivates onlookers, embracing a resplendent red and gold theme in honour of the auspicious dragon year, complemented by an array of intricately designed tang lung (lanterns).
Ang Yu Zheng, 21, a student studying in Singapore, returned to Kuala Lumpur to bask in the Chinese New Year festivities.
Noting an increased presence of visitors from China, he expressed excitement about meeting friends at Pavilion and indulging in Japanese cuisine.
“I am studying overseas, so I wanted to meet up with my friends here at Pavilion before heading back to Singapore,” he told Scoop.
Shahim Miah, 28, a construction worker from Bangladesh, sought solace in the mesmerising decorations, capturing moments to share with his family back home. The mall serves as a regular sanctuary for Shahim and his friends during their three-day reprieve from work.
Vendor spirits remained high, reflecting a helpful and customer-friendly atmosphere, amid the public holidays.
Syahir Akid, 24, a support staff member at a cosmetics shop, reports thriving business, particularly with the surge of customers from China.
Mahmud Mutalib, 28, a sales representative in a shop selling leather products, observed a modest uptick in sales, welcoming customers from Europe, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, and Brunei seeking travel bags during the holiday.
“We (the vendors) are happy to receive the customers, especially from overseas who come here to purchase travel bags from us. It is nice to see this much crowd here,” he said, adding that he did not ‘balik kampung’ to Sabah this time due to the work here.
Beyond Pavilion KL, the recently inaugurated Plaza The Exchange, TRX, experienced a bustling influx of visitors.
A 32-year-old first-time visitor, who only wanted to be known as Gan, expressed surprise at the crowd, drawn by the allure of exclusive outlets featuring luxury brands that are hard to find elsewhere.
“I wanted to try out some Japanese cuisine, but it’s too crowded to get in there. There are a lot of new exclusive outlets here (in TRX), such as chocolates from Switzerland and gelato from Italy, which makes this mall crowded,” she said. – February 11, 2024