RAMADAN NOT THE TIME FOR EXTRAVAGANCE

By Melati Mohd Ariff

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Ramadan, the long awaited holy month
for the Muslims, the one that attests one's religious piety, is back again.

During this holy month Muslims will fast from dawn to dusk and are reminded
of the pains of deprivation that the unfortunate undergo when there are no food
and water.

Therefore Muslims have to observe moderation in eating and drinking during
this month and the practice should be continued during the other months as well.

This spiritual guidance invariably helps in reducing the expenses at a time
when the price of fuel and necessities are spiraling.

A `COMMODITY' MONTH

Unfortunately many Muslims are not clear of the true virtues of Ramadan that
encompasses every aspect of our daily life, including the way we spend and
behave.

Despite the sanctity of Ramadan, there are many who take the opportunity to
capitalise on the holy month to seek profit.

Numerous sales tactics are employed to influence the Muslim consumers. But
for those who cannot control their desires, they fall prey to unscrupulous
traders. When they run out of cash, they resort to using the credit card to make
a purchase!

Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, the Group Communication Director for the Federation
of Malaysian Consumer Associations(Fomca) related to Bernama it is the same
thing year after year during Ramadan.

SUCCUMBING TO ONE'S OWN DESIRE

During each Ramadan, Muslims are reminded to curtail on all desires.

Only that this reminder is shrugged of by some and the result is that the
expenses incurred during Ramadan is greater than the other months.

Just observe the people patronising shopping centres or Ramadan bazaars that
mushroom all over the town during Ramadan.

Some buy clothing and others more than they need apart from changing their
curtains and furniture. Some even go to the extent of changing their cars to
`balik kampung' (going back to hometown) in style.

As for this group of people, they want everything new without thinking of
their financial capacity and the consequences of over spending.

Some patronising the Ramadan bazaars buy various delicacies more than needed
and a big portion of the purchase end up in the dustbin!

"Though Ramadan teaches Muslims on moderation in every aspect, but the
extravagance seems to be a hard habit to overcome," comments Mohd Yusof.

ARE THE THINGS REALLY CHEAP DURING RAMADAN

Even before Ramadan arrives, there is a number of traders who roll out sales
gimmicks. And the promotion activities are boosted during Ramadan with
numerous slogans to attract the consumer's attention with mind boggling
discounts and prizes.

"Businesses hold various cheap sales and `mega sales' due to the consumer's
extravagance. Numerous tactics have been employed to attract the consumer's
attention.

"Yet, it is the very same month that consumers complain of unethical
practices during the cheap sales with many lamenting that there is no difference
in the prices before or during the cheap sale.

"The traders often hike the prices and give a discount and that is why
consumers find that there is no difference in the price," he added.

There are also cases where there maybe a real price discount on the expense
of the product quality.

RAMADAN BUFFET AND THE HALAL ISSUE

Come Ramadan, hotels and restaurants will attempt to outdo each other in
offering the Ramadan spread with some lining up between 99-200 items in their
menu.

The price of buffet varies depending on the premise. Some offer between
RM50 (US$15.62) and RM100 (US$31.25) per adult and between RM25 (US$7.81) and
RM50 per child.

Nowadays it is a trend to break fast at hotels. Many of corporate companies
hold breaking fast events at hotels including by inviting the less fortunate,
like orphans.

While breaking fast at the hotels is not cheap, consumers have to be wary of
the halal status of the offering especially in the smaller hotel chains.

The number of hotels in the country with Halal certification is small
compared with their total number.

Therefore, Muslims must take note of this if they are to break fast in
restaurants or hotels during Ramadan.

FOMCA'S ADVICE

Mohd Yusof pointed out that the Muslim consumers have to curtail their
spending in all aspects during Ramadan and adopt a sustainable way of life.

"The money saved can be utilised for the expenses during Hari Raya
(Eid-Fitri) including in covering the cost of fuel to return to their hometowns,
buy clothes and others.

"If possible, start saving from the beginning of the year for the festive
season and set a target for the amount that you want to save.

According to him, this would ensure consumers were not financially burdened
during the festive season.

Many of the consumers make use of their monthly income to cover the expenses
during the festive season to the extent that they have no more funds to cover
the expense for the rest of the month.

"At the end of the day they don't even have enough money to pay their debts
- credit card bills, car and house loans and others.

"In fact many have to borrow to celebrate Hari Raya. Thus saving for the
festive season must be made a habit to avoid financial pitfalls," he said.
-- BERNAMA


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