KUALA LUMPUR – While grateful for a Deepavali without Covid-19 movement restrictions, vendors and customers at the Brickfields Deepavali bazaar say it is still financially challenging this year as they struggle with the high cost of goods.
And with the general election ahead on November 19, they hope the new government would do more to further reduce the prices of goods to increase their spending power.
A cookie vendor who wanted to be known as Krishnamurthy said he may have moved 75% of his goods, but only obtained minimal profits.
I am still struggling; people come to buy things but (the amount) is still not as much as before (the pandemic). I really hope the new government can lower the prices of cooking and baking items so that traders like me can earn more,” the 61-year-old shopkeeper told The Vibes.
He said before the pandemic, customers would buy three or four tubs of cookies, but this year, most of his patrons bought only one each.
Garment trader Murthy, 71, hoped the new government would provide loans for small vendors like him.
“The profit I earn is not enough to cover my overall costs. So I am still struggling even though it’s after the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Likewise, another biscuit trader who wanted to be known as Pusha, 61, said the government should prepare allocations specifically for small vendors to ensure their businesses weather unexpected crises like the pandemic.
“I struggled during the pandemic, but now the struggle is still the same. There must be plans by the government to help small vendors survive. Deepavali is just once a year but even then it is so challenging,” she said.
A tea stall owner named Sherin said her business was better now that the economy had fully reopened, but sales have fluctuated.
The only way for us to survive is if the government further reduces the price of items,” said the 25-year-old.
Mandala artist Diana, 30, who paints on clay and ceramic lamps, said hers is a small business whereby her starting price is RM2 to RM3 for simple designs.
“Even this is not (taken up) by customers,” she said, adding that her business is mainly to help her earn extra income for the festive season.
Customers, meanwhile, admitted their shopping habits had changed.
A shopper who asked to be known as Nithya, 27, said she now considered prices first whereas before she had bought what she liked.
“I don’t feel like I have fully come out from the pandemic,” she said.
Saritha, 33, another shopper, said it felt difficult to feel “happy” about the festive season with budget constraints at the back of her mind.
Even though it’s after the pandemic, prices are still so high. I must draw up a budget three months before the festival just to ensure all our money is spent properly and to reduce costs (where possible).”
She said that before she would easily spend about RM1,000 on new clothes for her family, her budget now is RM400.
Shanti, a 35-year-old mother, said she had not even planned to shop at the Deepavali bazaar this year to keep costs low.
“But in the end, I came because my children wanted to. Even after Covid-19, prices are still high. My only hope from the new government is that it can reduce prices or taxes on goods.” – The Vibes, October 24, 2022
Reporting by Subashini Sivasankar and Kirtigha Pannee Selvan
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