JOHOR BARU: Paper replicas of petrol pumps are gaining unusual traction this Qing Ming Festival, with traders linking the demand to fuel anxieties stemming from the US-Iran conflict.
Prayer paraphernalia shop manager Chai Jeng Feng said more people are seeking the items, alongside the usual clothes and household goods.
“Petrol pump replicas are pretty popular, but perhaps because of fuel shortages, there is more interest from families,” he said.
He added that cars – whether petrol-powered or electric – are also surprisingly hot this year.
Chai said the paper effigy business has remained stable, with sales largely unchanged from last year.
“Despite all the uncertainties, Qing Ming remains a very significant occasion. There is also no significant increase in prices, and that has helped to keep sales stable,” he added.
Another trader, Shieh Siow Leong, said some families placed orders for custom-made products.
“Luckily, I bought all the raw materials early when the price was still relatively low, so I’m able to maintain the same prices and this has helped with sales this year,” he said.
Many consumers said they are being cautious with their spending for the festival.
Housewife Lim Gek Lui, 40, said the rising cost of living means she will have to choose the offerings for her late grandparents and father.
“Previously, I bought houses, clothes, money, gold and silver bars but I may have to drop a thing or two this year.
“I have to choose the items wisely. Most likely, I won’t be getting the houses, which is among the most expansive items,” she said, adding that there are other costs to consider.
“We also have to pay for cleaning the graveyards and other expenses. All these add up, so I have to cut somewhere,” she said.
Restaurant owner Lee Lay Yien, 59, said she will keep her spending modest by sticking to basic offerings such as clothes and household goods.
“My family rarely gets anything too fancy to begin with, so there is not really anything to cut down. It will be the same this year, and I’ll most likely stick to my normal budget,” she said.
Businessman Ng Kong Keng, 71, said his family plans to maintain their usual offerings.
“We usually buy paper money, clothes and gold bars, which come to about RM300 to RM400 each year,” he said, adding that he is also buying for family members in Singapore.
Qing Ming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, dates back more than 2,500 years.
Unlike most Chinese festivals, this event follows the solar calendar and falls either on April 4 or 5 each year.
This year, it is on April 5.
Families typically observe the occasion within a window of 10 days before and after the date.
