THIS is an open secret - savvy Singaporean shoppers head for Malaysia to shop.
Public relations consultant Lynne Chee, 28, who shops in Kuala Lumpur (KL) occasionally, says: "When I am in Malaysia, I shop! I once bought a pair of shoes from Vincci at Suria KLCC that was very pretty and cheap. And it was only much later that it became available in Singapore but selling for quite a bit more."
While you don't have to wait for the sales to hit town, it makes good sense to time your visit with the annual Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival, when things go at rock-bottom prices.
This year, unlike the usual six weeks for the past six years, the mega-sale carnival will last 11 weeks. Starting from this Saturday (June 16) when the sale kicks off, it will be a non-stop shopping frenzy as shoppers get treated to irresistible discounts and bargains.
The carnival, which is organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Malaysia and Shopping Malaysia Secretariat, is one of the 50 major events in Visit Malaysia 2007's calendar.
According to Tourism Malaysia, major sales like these are organised during the year in line with the government's effort to make Malaysia a top-of-mind shopping destination.
This year, the first major sale was the month-long Malaysia GP Sale held in conjunction with the Petronas Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix from March to April. After the carnival, shoppers can look forward to another mega year-end sale from Dec 1, 2007 to Jan 1, 2008.
Attractive discounts aside, Malaysia is often lauded for its many shopping opportunities in malls and flea markets.
In the capital city KL, big and modern shopping complexes that come with supermarkets, cinemas and boutiques are fast becoming a lifestyle choice.
One of the liveliest shopping districts in KL is the Golden Triangle area covering Jalan Imbi, Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Sultan Ismail. Within the triangle are malls such as Starhill, KL Plaza, Lot 10, BB Plaza and Berjaya Times Square, which carry numerous international and locally branded goods.
Other popular shopping districts are Jalan Ampang's Suria KLCC shopping complex, Ampang Park, Ampang Point and Great Eastern Mall.
On the other end of the scale are the flea markets, which come alive on weekends. Worth checking out are those at Amcorp Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, for its antiques and curios; Mont Kiara for household items, jewellery and trinkets; and Bangsar Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur for nice bags, embroidered and traditional apparel, candles and aromatherapy.
In other Malaysian states, there is beachfront shopping in Penang's Island Plaza and Gurney Plaza; and Kuala Terengganu's Sutera Semai Centre for beautiful fabrics made of silk, songket (brocade) and batik.
For Singaporean shoppers, the favourable ringgit exchange rate also means that you can stretch your dollar further in Malaysia.
If you travel by air, you can start shopping at the duty-free shopping centre Tropikul, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Other popular duty-free shopping areas in Malaysia include Pulau Langkawi, Padang Besar and Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah, Labuan and Pulau Tioman
Highlights of the carnival
The Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (MMSC), from June 16 to Sept 2, returns with exciting events and activities, bargains, discounts and promotions. Check these out:
Launch event: On June 16, witness the launch of the sale at the Bukit Bintang shopping precinct at 8pm. From 1pm to 10pm, take part in the Hourly Lucky Draw at the corner of Bangunan Yayasan Selangor, Jalan Bukit Bintang, and you could walk away with shopping vouchers and other attractive prizes.
MasterCard Retail Recharge Programme: During the MMSC, MasterCard cardholders who use their MasterCard can win holiday prizes that include a 4D/3N stay for four at the prestigious Pangkor Laut Estates.
Midnight sales: Enjoy additional discounts, bargains and promotions for eight weekends, from June 6 to Sept 1 at the MMSC Midnight Sales. Don't forget to catch the big 7-special - the sale on July 7, when seven malls in Bukit Bintang whip up a shopping feast like no other.
Photo: Jamie Koh
» Malls to hit for events and discounts not to be missed. Find out more here.
