SIBU: The price of lanterns is dearer by between 10 and 15 per cent on the past year, which perhaps explains why sales of lanterns have been slow.
A shopkeeper selling lanterns and other new year goodies said business had been unexpectedly poor.
“Chinese New Year is just two weeks away and there
isn’t any obvious sign of festive mood in the air,” she said.
The shopkeeper, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said people seemed to be cautious in their spending this year.
Many came looking for lanterns, which were available in great variety, but there were not many takers, she lamented.
She said school had just reopened and families with schooling children probably had already spent much on school books, stationery and the like.
On a positive note, she expected business to pick up towards the last few days before the festival when those working outside Sibu would have returned home.
On the lanterns, she said most were imported from China and Peninsular Malaysia.