JOHOR BARU: Mechanics and workshops are seeing a surge in business as motorists prep their vehicles to “balik kampung” this Hari Raya.

       Jack Ngaw, 41, who owns a car servicing centre at Jalan Kota Puteri here said there has been a 20% increase in customers this week compared to the week before.

       “We have been getting more customers since the border reopened on April 1 and now that Hari Raya is also coming, things are improving even more.“Normally, the ‘balik kampung’ crowd would start building up about a week before Hari Raya but this year, people have started to send their cars for servicing way earlier.

       “There are some cars which had not been used for long distance travel for two years and needed to be serviced to make sure that everything is working fine,” he said when met at his shop here on Friday.

       He added the majority of his customers are also Malaysians working in Singapore who are finally able to return to their hometowns this Hari Raya.

       “Many of them have not been able to service their cars for a long time as they were in Singapore while their cars were left with family members or friends here,” said Ngaw.

       Apart from his shop, he noted other businesses around him such as tyres and car accessories shops had also been doing well lately.

       Workshop owner Afiq Azri Mohd Abdul Salam Subrayar, 27, said he expects the number of customers to increase further during the last week of Ramadan.

       “We have started getting customers servicing their cars for Hari Raya this week but I believe the number will probably be higher next week.

       “After two years of not being able to balik kampung, many are very excited to do so this year and are taking precautions to ensure they have a smooth ride,” he said.

       Workshop director Chu Fong Wee, 56, said the number of customers for the festive season is expected to increase throughout this year.

       “During Chinese New Year earlier this year, I had also experienced an increase in the number of customers and I expect things to improve throughout the year during other celebrations.

       “The reopening of the border has also helped to improve business and I hope that this will continue,” she said.