Year of the Pig: in Muslim Malaysia, brands tread carefully for Chinese New Year
- Shopping malls have a dilemma. Many are ignoring this year’s zodiac altogether – and few are willing to go the whole hog
As Chinese across the world get ready to celebrate the Year of the Pig, in Muslim-majority Malaysia some shopping centres and brands are sidestepping outright representations of the animal to avoid upsetting cultural sensitivities.
Usually shopping malls mark festive occasions with elaborate decorations and attractions, drawing snap-happy crowds – but this year, pigs are off the menu.
Paradigm Mall, a shopping centre in suburban Petaling Jaya, is instead prominently featuring Japanese cartoon icon Doraemon in its decorations, with more than 30 life-size figurines on display.
Other malls, too, have studiously avoided any porcine representation, instead using generic New Year imagery such as lions, firecrackers and lanterns. Popular shopping centre 1Utama has, among other decor, set up several oversized “piggy banks” – but otherwise the pig is conspicuously absent.