Trying times: Azmi putting final touches on a chapal at his shop in Butterworth. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
BUTTERWORTH: With Hari Raya less than a week away, sales of chapal or traditional Malay sandals here have yet to pick up pace.
Chapal maker Azmi Jaafar said one of the reasons could be the weakening ringgit, which has made imported goods more expensive.
In Azmi’s case, he has to pay more for the quality leather imported from countries such as Italy, Germany, Brazil and India.
Another reason, he said, could be that many people have tightened their belts after spending on their children’s school essentials last month.
“Despite it still being a trend and tradition to wear chapal during Hari Raya, business has been slow and dropped by about 30%. Due to the weakening ringgit, I have to pay more for imported materials from overseas.
“This has led to a thin profit margin. I hope business will pick up in the next few days,” he said when met at his shop.
Azmi, 48, said he needs good quality leather to produce high-quality chapal that are comfortable to wear.
“By paying more for leather, I have no choice but to sell the chapal at a higher price to cover my cost.
“A pair of chapal is now priced at RM150 compared with RM120 last year,” he said, adding that he has received orders for only 150 chapal compared with 300 during the same period last year.
On the latest in-demand design, Azmi, who has been in the trade for the past 30 years, said chapal fans love the bunga raya motif and other Malay-related designs.
Among the VIPs who wore his chapal were former Teluk Ayer Tawar assemblyman Datuk Mustafa Kamal Ahmad and Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Dr Muhammad Farid Saad.
Azmi said one of his custom-made chapal was also presented as a gift to Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
