KUALA LUMPUR: With less than 24 hours until Christmas, the city's malls are alive with festive fervour as shoppers embark on a final quest for the perfect touches and preparations.
In this vibrant holiday spectacle, several prominent malls have transformed into bustling hubs, attracting a lively crowd in search of those exquisite final additions to elevate their festive celebrations.
As the clock ticks down, the air is charged with the energy of those hurrying to secure last-minute gifts and, perhaps, the essential ingredients needed to craft a memorable holiday dinner to be shared with loved ones.
Checked by the New Straits Times on a few shopping malls near Kuala Lumpur, it was evident that people were making their final runs, with some even picking up gifts for the festive season.
For Alessandra, 48, today is dedicated to making her final preparations—grocery shopping and acquiring a few essentials, especially for her special Italian dishes that will take centre stage tomorrow.
Hailing from Italy, she is celebrating this festive season with her in-laws in Publika.
"It is my son's second Christmas here in Malaysia, and tomorrow we will celebrate with my family, my husband's family, and some friends. They're coming to my place, and I will cook all the Italian food.
"As part of the preparation, we are buying groceries today. Tomorrow morning, I will be busy in the kitchen, cooking everything from scratch. In terms of presents, we already have a few little ones sorted.
Alessandra mentioned that the preparations for Christmas decorations and gifts had been completed a few weeks earlier to ensure everything was well-organised.
"Actually, I just remembered I need to buy wrapping paper because I almost forgot. And yes, my son is enjoying all the decorations," she said with a smile.
Amidst her festive preparations, Jaselline, a 26-year-old from Petaling Jaya, expressed her appreciation for the plethora of shops still offering decorations for sale.
"I'm making my last-minute preparations, and as I focused on decorations, I realised I forgot to get decorations for the table.
"My family and relatives are coming over tomorrow for dinner, so here I am trying to get all the items I need," she remarked when encountered near a Christmas booth.
It's not only the adults gearing up for Christmas; a lively group of children was also spotted joyfully selecting gifts for their Secret Santa exchange.
Radiating enthusiasm, 7-year-old Kin Kin shared that he and his siblings are on their way to the shopping malls to carefully pick out special gifts for the occasion.
"I have a bunch of exciting gifts for Secret Santa tomorrow, and I can't wait to play with them. We're also having dinner with other relatives.
"All the decorations are up, and we pitched in by adding lights and decorating the Christmas tree. Everything at home is set for the festive celebrations," he said.
Earlier reported Year-end sales and last-minute Christmas shopping might be among the main causes of traffic congestion in most city roads, today.
Traffic checks on most roads in the heart of Kuala Lumpur showed traffic congestion and some were at a standstill. Traffic on highways, however, is smooth-moving or clear.
As of checks at 3pm, the worst affected roads, to name a few are Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Dang Wangi, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Maharajalela.