Jakel Group managing director Faroz Jakel said the company offered more than three million pieces of clothing comprising baju Melayu as well as women’s and children’s clothing in conjunction with Aidilfitri this year, with 40% of them already sold last night.

He also said Jakel Group is confident of selling at least 90% of overall clothing.

“In 2017, 2018 and 2019, we registered textile sales of RM1.4 billion each year. When Covid-19 hit, sales declined by half to around RM700 million a year,” he said in a media briefing during the launch of the new textile store in Shah Alam today.

On the new temporary store located next to Shah Alam Hospital, Faroz said the 80,000 sq ft store owned by Jakel Realty Sdn Bhd has the capacity to support 10,000 visitors at a time.

Located 200m from the old premise at the Section 7 commercial centre that caught fire in early January, he said the store has gotten the approval to operate from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Tenaga Nasional Bhd, the fire department and related parties.

“The temporary store was constructed with a solid structure using steel and stone walls and not a temporary tent. It has been allowed to operate for two years by MBSA and was open to the public on March 25,” he said.

Faroz said the old premise is still undergoing assessment to determine whether it can be restored or has to be demolished.

“We will obtain the information in May. If it has to be demolished, we will rebuild the building but if we have to repair it, we will do it. The fire department has informed us that the cause of the fire is from a short circuit,” he said.

Faroz added that the old building that was destroyed by fire is expected to be ready for reopening by 2025.