NIBONG TEBAL: If you were wondering why the roads were jammed and the shopping centres were packed last weekend, it is because it was the final weekend of shopping madness before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
For the next weekend, it will all be about cooking and balik kampung before Hari Raya, which is likely to fall on May 3.
At a shopping enclave in Batu Kawan on mainland Penang yesterday, shoppers with bags in hand checked out deals and bought new garb for the coming celebrations.
Even families from neighbouring Kedah and Perak decided to drive to Butterworth for their festive shopping.
Labour officer Sabilah Abu Bakar, 47, and her two daughters were seen picking out new outfits for the big day.
“I work in Ipoh and only commute here during the weekends.
“So this is the only time I can bring my daughters out to shop and help them pick out new clothes.
“We bought our baju kurung earlier but the girls want normal wear as well.
“Today is all about them as next weekend we will not have time to shop for clothes. It will be time to prepare Raya delicacies,” she said when met at the mall.
Sabilah said if they forget to buy something, they would look for it nearer to home at Padang Serai in Kulim, Kedah.
Housewife Hernieliyana Husni, 41, was out shopping with her husband and their two-year-old son on the boy’s birthday yesterday.
“My son turned two today (yesterday) and we decided to take him for a fun day out as well as to get him some shoes for Hari Raya.
“This is the last weekend we have before Hari Raya preparations begin. Next week will be all about buying foodstuff and baking cookies,” she said.
Hernieliyana was happy to drive from Bagan Serai, Perak, for their day out as the past two Hari Raya Aidilfitri were quiet due to the Covid-19 movement control order.
“We were careful and observed Covid-19 precautions, but it is wonderful to be out shopping like this,” she said, adding that she went down south to Kuala Lumpur to shop as well.