KUALA LUMPUR: The festive cheer of Christmas is building up in Kuala Lumpur as major shopping malls are adorned with vibrant decorations and filled with the holiday spirit.

People from all walks of life, including foreign tourists, are enjoying the festive atmosphere ahead of the celebration on Dec 25. Many are also making last-minute preparations.

A survey at three shopping malls found bustling crowds taking advantage of year-end promotions and posing for photos with the seasonal decorations.

Christane Jane, 35, spotted at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, said she was only able to make last-minute preparations due to her busy work schedule.

"I have been working the whole week and finally got some time to get most items for cooking next Wednesday (Dec 25), as I will be hosting two dinners this year," she told Bernama on Saturday (Dec 21).

Similarly, Rosemary Kutty, 60, met at The Exchange TRX, expressed her excitement about celebrating Christmas this year with her siblings after years of being apart.

"After our parents passed away, we no longer had Christmas dinners together and were separated by distance. But this year, my siblings are flying back to Malaysia to celebrate together," she said.

Meanwhile, tourists from Europe and India commented on the festive atmosphere in Kuala Lumpur, describing it as more vibrant compared to their home cities.

"I like the ambiance here in Malaysia. It is very festive and decorative, compared to London. This is even nicer," said Liesa, 23, a European tourist, at the Pavilion Shopping Mall.

Meanwhile, Masrifah Masrodin, 43, a teacher at SRA Selayang Baru, took advantage of the school holidays to organise a trip for 80 students and seven other teachers to various attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

"Every year, we organise excursions like this, and today we brought the students to Aquaria, a chocolate factory, and the National Museum," she said. – Bernama