It’s Christmas. That wonderful time of the year. I know I have said this before. December is my favourite month of the year, second only to March, which is my birthday month. For me, there’s very little not to like about Christmas or December. This year, Christmas came early in many of the shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur. Decorations went up in early November. And, they were flawlessly grand. The malls outdid themselves. Just when I thought, ‘How can?’ They did and they have.

Every year, malls come up with unique and exciting themes with eye-popping, in a very nice way, decorations. It’s as if they collectively and secretly throw down a Christmas decoration gauntlet.  Each mall, worth its salt or should I say floor area with a who’s-who tenant directory, comes into the ring, decked with the biggest, tallest, finest and mostest in its quest to be the bestest decorated mall in the city. It’s so much fun. To see, to compare, to selfie, to photograph, to share and to list them. From the one with the wow factor, to the very impressive to the really good to the ok-lah.

I don’t think there is an official competition or ranking of malls with the best Christmas decorations. At least, none that I could find. But media and social media sites write and splash bountiful pictures of malls that they think are worth visiting. Generally, rankings, when offered, are based on personal preferences. Meanwhile, malls use marketing and advertising to further sway opinions and drive that all important, foot traffic. To the cash register!

Malls are where I go to, weekdays and weekends. They are very much a part of the Malaysian culture and lifestyle. The under one-roof concept means I can have my breakfast, lunch or dinner, do my grocery shopping, go to the gym (I don’t, but if I did), have a massage or manicure, watch a movie and have a drink or ice-cream before I head home. They offer air-conditioned refuge from the country’s all year sunny and/or rainy weather. And, because they are everywhere, they are quite easy to walk to or drive and park.

There are some 671 malls in Malaysia, with close to 39% located in the Klang Valley alone, according to a survey by the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association in 2018[1].  It was reported that the number of malls will likely total 700 by end 2019[2]. It seems like there are too many malls for a population of around 32 million. And, with the increasingly uncertain economy, sluggish salaries, higher cost of living and growing online purchases – their bottom lines are more likely to be impacted by slower retail spending.

Hence, malls have to continuously work harder to pull in the crowds. I wasn’t able to locate budget allocations for Christmas decorations but they must cost a fair amount. Having to outdo the competition and better their own performance every year are tall orders. This makes Christmas decorations at malls a big production every year. The size and magnitude of the structures constructed, and the realism injected must require considerable planning, investment, extensive materials, time, space, usually the centre-court, and many people to bring it all together. While some materials and items can be recycled, new themes each year rule out too many opportunities for reuse.

Malls all over the country create their own magical environments every year. Twinkle lights, Santa Clauses, snowmen, sleighs, reindeers, Christmas trees, bells, candles, chandeliers, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, snow globes, angels and snow sheets. All nice and beautiful. To entice. To invite family, friends and shoppers to celebrate the season of giving. After all, December is about holidays, shopping, presents, spending, eating and yes, more shopping for Christmas. Ka-ching! Ka-ching!

My top marks go to Suria KLCC’s ‘White Christmas Wonderland.’ It’s an expert recreation of a village square in a cold and wintery day somewhere in Europe. The attention to detail is remarkable. Snowmen abound in different sizes. Wearing attractive scarves with red beanies, black hats and colourful caps. Skating on a frozen pond. Sitting on a bench. Welcoming people. Chef snowmen in toques. Santa Claus stuck in a chimney. Pretty houses with turrets. A clock tower. A very big ferris wheel. It’s a delightful festive creation. Outside on the KLCC Esplanade, stands Malaysia’s tallest Christmas tree at a towering 30 meters. Resplendent with 7,000 colourful baubles Very nice.

What do I want for Christmas? Peace, happiness, good health and presents for all.