KOTA SAMARAHAN: With the new school term set to begin, shopping malls here were bustling with families making last-minute back-to-school purchases as parents and children prepared themselves mentally and financially for a return to the classroom.
At Farley Kota Samarahan, parents were seen picking up remaining school necessities such as water bottles, school bags and stationery while children eagerly tagged along, excited for the start of the new academic year after a month-long holiday.
Among them was Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel Mark Hateley, 41, who was completing final purchases for his two children in Primary Five and Primary Three.
“Today is just for small items,” he said, explaining that most school supplies had already been purchased earlier in December.
“We prefer to plan ahead. That way, it doesn’t feel like a burden at the last minute,” he said.
Mark shared that careful planning was especially important for his family as December was also a festive month with Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“It’s not a burden, but it is a challenge. We prioritised school necessities first, then planned the festive expenses later,” he said.
Despite rising living costs, he welcomed government assistance for schoolchildren, saying it helped families cope with increasing prices of daily necessities.
“Even though salaries may increase, the cost of goods keeps rising. We really appreciate the government’s efforts to support families who need help,” he added.
Mark also advised parents to plan according to their own circumstances, noting that buying school essentials early helped reduce stress.
“For daily items like food, you can buy them anytime, but school supplies are usually a one-off purchase for the year.
“Planning early is better, even though there are sales later on,” he said, also praising Farley for extending its promotional period to help families shopping at the last minute.
Meanwhile, housewife Beatrice Meling, 38, was busy managing purchases for her two children, aged 16 and 10, who attend a secondary school and a primary school respectively.
“We started buying in November when back-to-school promotions began.
“We buy little by little — clothes first, then bags, then stationery,” she said.
Beatrice noted that expenses were slightly higher this year, particularly as her older child had become more selective about styles and brands.
“School clothes alone can cost almost RM500 for one child, including uniforms, shoes and socks.
“There aren’t really cheap items anymore, so we try to buy durable items that can last the whole year,” she said.
While she acknowledged that the RM150 government assistance helped, she felt it could be improved.
“It helps a little, especially for stationery, but overall costs are still quite high,” she said, adding that spreading out purchases made expenses more manageable.
Another parent, housewife Zainab Sulaiman, 48, said she felt happy seeing Farzana Eryna Maiki, her 12-year-old daughter ready for the new school session.
“All the school items have already been bought,” she said, but admitted that expenses were higher this year compared to last year.
“The MADANI assistance helps, especially when buying stationery like pens and pencils,” she said.
However, Zainab shared that beyond financial concerns, she also worried about non-material issues such as her child’s studies and the school environment.
“I worry about her learning and also issues like bullying,” she said, adding that her hope was simply for her daughter to study diligently.
As advice to other parents preparing for the school term and upcoming festive season, Zainab encouraged moderation and thrift.
“Use what can still be used and save where possible. With the fasting month and Hari Raya coming up, we need to be careful with spending,” she said.
As the school bell is set to ring again, the scene at Farley Kota Samarahan reflected not just consumer activity, but also the shared hopes, concerns and careful planning of parents striving to give their children the best possible start to the new school year.
