Another mall bites the dust as we bid farewell to Malakat Mall in Cyberjaya. After its unfortunate launch on 13th March 2020, the mall faced immediate challenges due to the pandemic lockdown that struck just days later. Standing for four years, Malakat Mall was envisioned as a Muslim-friendly shopping destination, featuring brands from Muslim boutiques to Islamic art.
The mall was aimed at becoming a success under the leadership of Fadzil Hashim, popularly known as Coach Fadzil. He took over a previously failing mall and invested RM4 million in renovations, without taking any loans. Despite a promising start with 6,000 visitors on its first day, featuring only nine open shops, the nationwide pandemic lockdown severely impacted business operations. The news was broken to us from their official Facebook account, which garnered the attention of many netizens, who shared their thoughts about the closure.
In a 2022 interview with Business Insider, Coach Fadzil recounted the initial optimism and subsequent struggles. He highlighted that the mall’s size and high renovation costs made it difficult to break even. Furthermore, many Malaysians who commented on a viral TikTok video described Malakat Mall as lacking attractions and being overshadowed by the nearby D’Pulze mall. While the grocery store, stocked with goods imported from Turkey, seemed to perform well, other stores struggled due to high prices.
@aqlanrosli Apa punca sebenarnya Malakat Mall ni takde org? #fyp #tiktokmalaysia
Ultimately, the decision was made to cease operations at the physical mall. Malakat Mall’s retail unit will transition entirely to an online platform, offering fashion, accessories, stationery, books, and jewelry at their website. However, the Malakat Grocer will maintain a physical presence in Taman Kosas, Ampang.
To mark the closure, a Malakat Mall Closing Sale will be held, with discounts of up to 70% on assets from 20th-31st July 2024. This marks the end of an era for Malakat Mall, a project that held great promise but was ultimately undone by unforeseen challenges.
Source: Tiktok, BusinessInsider, Facebook
Jade Mary contributed to this article.
