KUALA LUMPUR: Although the number of foreign tourists at popular shopping malls in the federal capital is dwindling due to the Covid-19 epidemic worldwide, locals continue to frequent malls as part of their weekend activities.
From city centre malls like Suria KLCC and Pavilion to suburban outlets such as Sunway Pyramid and 1 Utama, the crowds have not dissipated on regular days and especially on weekends, as observed by the New Sunday Times.
What’s different about the shoppers this time is their “fashion” accessory — the face mask. They are seen making frequent stops at the concierge to disinfect their hands before going about with their chores.
PROTECTING PATRONS
On the heels of Covid-19, shopping malls are taking precautions to protect their patrons with hand sanitisers placed at entry points, concierges and information desks.
Sunway Malls and Theme Parks chief executive officer H.C. Chan said Sunway Malls had always been in collaboration with hygiene product suppliers to ensure the facilities at its malls were kept hygienic.
“Our indoor playgrounds and baby rooms are protected with eco-friendly water-based surface spray that kills viruses, bacteria, mould and fungal growth,” he said, adding that the measure boosted the indoor air quality of the malls.
Sunway Malls and Theme Parks is the owner and operator of six malls in the country. They are Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Giza Mall, Sunway Putra Mall, Sunway Velocity Mall (Klang Valley); Sunway Carnival (Seberang Jaya, Penang); and Sunway Big Box Retail Park (Nusajaya, Johor).
Chan said common areas at the malls were disinfected every 45 minutes to kill germs and bacteria.
These include lift buttons, handrails, escalator handrails, “press to open” door buttons at all lobbies and entrances, door handles, iPad and touch screen directories, baby rooms, kids’ toilets, kids’ playgrounds, benches and hand dryers in the toilets.
“All amenities, such as baby strollers and powered wheel-chairs, are sanitised after every use,” he said.
Chan said shoppers were encouraged to sanitise their hands before and after they leave the malls, along with wearing face masks in crowded areas.
He said shoppers who were not feeling well could approach the malls’ concierges to have their temperature taken.
“We constantly remind the shops in our malls to sanitise their premises frequently.”
NO DECREASE IN FOOTFALL
On whether local shopping malls had taken a beating following Covid-19 outbreak, Chan said there had been no significant change in the number of patrons.
“There is no significant decrease in footfall if we compare 2019 post-festive footfall with 2020 post-festive footfall,” he said.
However, he said the first wave of the Covid-19 outbreak had caused a slight decrease in footfall during the initial weeks.
“(But) it has normalised since, and our footfall has remained stable and resilient,” he said.
Chan said Sunway Malls had rolled out a RM5 million marketing campaign from Feb 28 onwards with an emphasis on sales-driven initiatives to stimulate consumer spending.
“The restructuring of payment period and 15 per cent electricity discount announced as part of the Malaysian stimulus package present an immediate stimulus for the mall industry, as it allows better cash-flow planning.”
He said the savings generated by the electricity would be ploughed back to encourage more consumer spending through marketing programmes, shoppers’ rewards, tenants’ vouchers adoption and free parking to create a multiplier effect.
‘NORMAL CYCLICAL TREND’
1 Utama Shopping Centre director Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok said the impact at the mall was not discernable as it did not rely on foreign tourists to make up its foot traffic, adding the mall continued to attract a fairly strong crowd.
“Our shoppers are locals and office workers who patronise the mall daily. That’s why we still see event organisers having events and roadshows here,” he said.
Teo said it was a normal cyclical trend for malls and retailers to record a slowdown in retail performance after a festive season and this had little to do with the Covid-19 fear.
“For this year especially, we have seen Christmas and Chinese New Year shopping periods happening back to back. As expected, February onwards is a normal low season for the retail industry, which happens every year.
“Due to the expected low season, it is therefore too early to determine whether the drop is attributed to Covid-19.”
Teo said the retail sector would remain resilient as the government and businesses work together to deliver retail-driven promotions to benefit the economy.
He said the mall had increased the frequency of disinfecting its public areas and amenities following the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Hand sanitisers have been installed and readily available for shoppers to use,” he added.
POST-FESTIVE SEASON
At Suria KLCC, an assistant at a cosmetic shop said the post-
festive season could be attributed to the relatively low turnout, as many shoppers had splurged during Christmas and Chinese New Year.
“Nevertheless, we continue to see big crowds on weekends. There are fewer shoppers on weekdays, but this is normal,” she said.
Shopper Nurul Sarah Jamaluddin, 23, said she chose to wear a face mask whenever she goes out to public areas.
“As long as we take measures and practise good hygiene, we should be fine.
“It is important to get updates from the health authorities on the situation. Do not listen to unverified news,” she said, adding that she was at Suria KLCC to buy books at a bookstore.
“I always come here to buy books. I don’t see why I should stop coming here because of Covid-19 when I am taking the precautionary measures as advised by the Health Ministry.”
“After all, the situation in the county is under control.”
In MELAKA, traders at popular tourist spots around Bandar Hilir said business had been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Handicrafts maker Mohd Nor Mahmud, 53, said since news of Covid-19 infection had gripped the world, the number of foreign tourists at Bandar Hilir, famous for its historical landmarks, had dropped significantly.
He said the impact was felt especially on weekends.
“Businesses are slow on weekdays and on public holidays. Usually the area is packed with people, but now you can see the difference as there are not many tourists from Singapore and China.
“Many of my friends who are rickshaw pullers have been forced to do other jobs. We hope situation will return to normal soon.”