The Malaysian Insight

SALES of fans, air conditioners and other home-cooling appliances have increased three-fold since temperatures rose to unexpected levels recently.

“Any appliance that generates cool air is in demand,” Malaysian Electrical Appliances Dealers’ Association (Fomeda) president Ng Chye Weng said.

He said the spike in sales began only last week.

Around half a dozen locations in the country have experienced a heatwave.

Business was unusually brisk because many people were simply unable to endure the unbearable heat, Ng told The Malaysian Insight.

The increase in sales, however, posed a minor problem.

“There are just not enough technicians to instal the air conditioners and the waiting list is long,” he said.

He added that customers now have to make appointments to get their units installed. And they may have to wait as long as two weeks.

“The buyers thought the air conditioners they bought could be installed the next day. They must have felt they just got punched in the gut when told they’d have to wait for up to two weeks.”

Ng said those who could not wait the two weeks opted for portable air coolers instead.

As the current hot spell is expected to last until September, dealers of appliances are rubbing their hands in glee as they order more stocks to meet customer demand.

Ng said is both good and bad news, depending on which side of the fence the sellers are standing on.

“Stocks of popular models and appliances are depleting quickly and dealers of imported appliances might not see their new stocks arrive in time.

“That is putting a smile on the faces of dealers of local brands. They are picking up the slack.”

“In other words, there will be no impact on supply because there are other brands to choose from,” he added.

Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (KL) Electrical Appliances Dealers’ Association president Kee Keng Huat said sales of fans and air-conditioners in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur have increased by 30%.

He said fans and portable air coolers are the best-selling items for the group’s members in the last three months.

“Now the bad news is we have been notified by some of the appliance manufacturers that our new orders could not be met.”

Kee said even though this spike in sales happens at this time every year, the association’s members are always stuck in this situation because it is “difficult to get enough stocks at once”.

“However, the choice is wide. Customers have many brands to choose from.

“There will not be any shortage of supply.”

Malacca Electrical Appliances Dealers’ Association president Lee Seng Fong said while air conditioners and portable air coolers are in high demand, it is the fans that people in the state purchase the most.

“Purely economics,” he said.

“Fans are cheap. They mostly go for fans that are under RM200.”

Lee said air conditioners under RM1,200 are the most popular among those who are price-conscious.

“Maybe it has to do with people trying to be frugal amid the soaring cost of living. Last year there was a lot of cash in the market because some could withdraw funds from their EPF savings.

“Not this year though.”

On May 16, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government could declare a state of emergency should temperatures soar to dangerous levels.

He had even warned temperatures might even reach up to 40C in August, usually the hottest month of the year.

Zahid said the government would closely monitor the situation. – May 25, 2023.