People have been flocking to Shah Alam for clothes at affordable prices, writes KASMIAH MUSTAPHA.

KOMPLEKS PKNS in Shah Alam may not boast of designer boutiques or well-known fashion outlets, but it has become known as the place for bargain clothing, especially for women.

Step into this famous landmark in the city, at any time of the month and chances are there will be promotional stalls on the ground floor selling all types of clothes.

Over the past few years, this promotional period, has kept the office-cum-shopping centre alive with shoppers, compared to the 1980s and 1990s, when people came mainly because the Road Transport Department (which has since moved) and the Immigration Department were there.

Now people flock to the complex for a good bargain, in particular, tudung, jubah or baju kurung.

And during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha festive seasons, you would be lucky to find a place to park especially at weekends, when cheap baju raya, cookies, and Malay dishes are on sale.

In August, the promotion was held on a smaller scale, with only about 50 stalls open for business. At other times, the whole ground floor will be covered from one end to the other with more than 100 stalls.

Most of the stalls belong to shop-keepers within the complex. When bigger promotions are held, tenders are opened to outsiders.

As the place has become so popular, the rush for a lot is said to be very competitive.

Most of the stalls sell almost similar items — tudung, jubah, baju kurung and baju melayu; the trick is to survey the stalls first, as you may find a good bargain. And really can bargain. Don’t be shy to name the figure you want, even if it is RM10 off the asking price. If you are lucky, you will get it.

There are tudung in various colours and designs from RM8 to RM52. There are bawals, donatellos, mortadas and bellisimas (don’t ask me where the names come from) and they are cheap.

You won’t easily find prices like these elsewhere in the Klang Valley.

Children’s baju melayu go for RM39 to RM59 depending on size, and children’s baju kurung from RM35 to RM65.

Drop by Sudirman Alwi stall and you can find lovely plain jubah for only RM50 in various colours and embroidery. Those with flowery motifs are RM65 each. Fancy linen blouses go for RM49-RM79. Your choice of different types of baju kurung —  baju kurung chiffon, baju kurung petak and kebaya — going for RM50 each, kebaya nyonya for RM149 and long frilly skirt for only RM29.90

A new promotion period began on Monday, and will last throughout Ramadan, until Hari Raya Aidilfitri. It is the perfect time to look for new baju raya.