Visitors share advice on crowds, strollers, cashless payments and parking at Absolut Bazaar x Festival Gaya Raya 2026 in MITEC

WITH Hari Raya just around the corner, the shopping routine is in full swing during this final weekend before the festive celebrations kick in.

Many have already visited the 66-hour non-stop shopping event, Absolut Bazaar x Festival Gaya Raya 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), which began on March 13 and is set to conclude tomorrow at 6am.

Netizens have been sharing advice for those planning to spend their Sunday at the event, highlighting several “do’s and don’ts”.

Among the most frequently mentioned concerns were the large crowds and baby strollers, which made the already busy venue feel even more compact.

Hidir said he was still at the venue at 6.45am and had managed to buy very little, noting that he frequently bumped into strollers.

“There may be a lot of people. It’s better to prepare a list of what you want to buy first. But if you end up wandering into other shops, it’ll be the same anyway,” he advised a user who asked whether the event was overcrowded.

Another visitor, @syierar.l, said the experience was tiring due to the crowd.

“Yes, within two hours it felt like I kept getting bumped by strollers and my feet were sore, but it’s okay. The mums also want to shop,” she said.

Some users also joked about the situation, with one commenting, “It’s okay to bump into a baby stroller. Better that than accidentally bumping into someone else’s partner, which that would hurt more.”

However, others expressed concern about parents bringing newborns and young children to the crowded venue, particularly during late-night hours between 3am and 4am.

Intan Sabrina described some parents as being “selfish” for bringing babies and toddlers to such a busy environment at that time.

Echoing similar views, @ftnsbrina_ said that, as a mother, she felt newborns should not be taken to crowded places, especially late at night.

“We know it’s your child, and if they fall sick, you will have to bear the consequences. But as members of the public, we are just offering advice not to do so. It is concerning for the baby, as their immune system is not yet strong. Many things can happen,” she said.

Suraya also criticised parents who later complain during the Raya celebrations about noise or others holding their children.

“Then during Raya, you say it’s too noisy and people cannot hold your child, and so on, but before Raya, you already brought the baby to a crowded place, in the middle of the night,” she said.

Apart from crowd-related concerns, poor network coverage at the venue also troubled many visitors who rely on cashless payments.

Nusraq Aishah urged organisers to address the issue, noting that most shoppers no longer carry large amounts of cash.

“Isn’t there any request for a portable tower or ‘Cell on Wheels’? Nowadays people are cashless. If there is no network coverage inside the building, how are buyers supposed to make payments? The ones who lose out are the vendors,” she said.

Meanwhile, on parking arrangements, Nina Ruzlan advised the public to use the south-east parking bay, where lorries load and unload goods.

Azim Ghafar explained that visitors could also use the West Gate entrance, adding that traffic management staff would guide vehicles accordingly.

“MITEC has two entrances — North and South. That area is only for drop-off and pick-up. From there, visitors will proceed to the basement parking. The West Gate, meanwhile, is the loading bay area where lorries frequently enter and exit. It is located between the North and South entrances,” he said.

 The Sun Malaysia