Malaysia City Excitement - Shopping

Malaysia is a premier shopping destination in Southeast Asia. Shops, bazaars and shopping centres throughout the country offer a staggering variety of clothing, cosmetics, shoes, handbags, household conveniences and electronic apparatus. From the antique and the exotic to modern electronic and audio-visual equipment, the constantly changing product range includes an extensive collection of designer labels from the fashion capitals of the world.

The exemption of duty on a range of items has resulted in more competitive pricing and makes shopping in Malaysia even more attractive option. Malaysia has duty-free shops in Labuan and Langkawi as well as Kuala Lumpur and Penang international airports and city centres. Duty-free items like cameras, watches, pens, cosmetics, perfume, cigarettes, liquor and electronic goods are among the cheapest in the world.

Local regulations ensure items are price-tagged and prominently displayed, particularly at department stores in shopping complexes where prices are fixed.

Sophisticated shopping malls where everything is designed for shopper convenience, contain banks, foreign currency exchange counters, restaurants, supermarkets and hundreds of shops offering tremendous variety.

For light, casual shopping there are roadside stalls, bazaars and night markets in towns throughout the country. A major attraction is the colourful, bustling night market or 'pasar malam' which stocks a bewildering variety of goods, local foods and fruits. Shopping at one is an experience to be enjoyed.

Despite the low prices, bargaining at nights markets is acceptable. It can be quite a humorous exercise as the traders are generally enthusiastic and friendly. Cash is accepted at night markets while major credit cards are accepted in most shops in the malls and shopping complexes.