“Ghost Mall” Malakat Shuts Down After 4 Years, Shifts to Online Retail

Source: SAYS

Malakat Mall in Cyberjaya, known as the “ghost mall,” will shut its doors on July 31 after four years. Founder Fadzil Hashim announced the closure in a Facebook post on July 17, stating the mall is moving to an online business model.

A Tough Journey

Malakat Mall faced numerous challenges, starting with a forced shutdown just five days after opening due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues continued even after the pandemic.

Moving Forward Online

Some food and beverage outlets will relocate to a nearby building, while other retail units will transition to the mall’s official website, offering products like clothing, accessories, stationery, books, and decorations.

Final Farewell Sale

To mark its closure, Malakat Mall is hosting a closing sale with discounts up to 70% from July 20 to July 31. Fadzil assured stakeholders and members of the Islamic Consumer Development Cooperative Malaysia that he remains committed to strengthening the business.

The “Ghost Mall” Nickname

In late 2022, Malakat Mall went viral after a TikTok video showed how empty it was, earning the “ghost mall” nickname. This caught the attention of international media like Business Insider and South China Morning Post.

Built for Muslim Entrepreneurs

The mall was originally created to support Muslim entrepreneurs by providing spaces for them to sell their products without needing a contract. Despite an initial investment of RM40 million and revenues of RM17 million to RM25 million in its first two years, the mall struggled to stay sustainable.

Apologies and Promises

In October last year, Malakat Mall apologized to stakeholders for the ongoing business difficulties but promised efforts to revitalize the mall.

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