By Clara Chooi

IPOH: Unlike most years, this Chinese New Year will be a frugal one for fruit seller Tun Ah Ching.

The 45-year-old Tun, who has been on a shoestring budget since July last year, said fluctuating oil prices and escalating transport costs had cut into 30 per cent of his income.

"The problem is that although global fuel prices have come down, the prices of many goods still remain high.

"I began feeling the pinch over the past few months when I noticed a lull in my customer flow.

"I think many people are staying home and keeping the money in their pockets to prepare for a recession," he said when met at his shop in Jalan Ampang here yesterday.

Tun, the father of three schoolgoing children, said he only had one simple wish for Chinese New Year ? to survive the economic downturn.

"For now, I can still make ends meet but it will definitely be a different Chinese New Year this year than the one before.

"I have to take extra care on what my family spends on, whether it is buying new clothes for the children or giving out ang pows," he said.

Despite the gloomy situation, Tun said he would push on with his fruit sales and keep his fingers crossed that customers would snap up all of his fruit stock during the season.

"I have not cut back on my stock. Just like last year, I have ordered 500 cartons of mandarin oranges and 500 cartons of tangerines, both imported from China," he said.

Tun has also maintained a cheap price for his customers ? an 8kg carton of tangerines is priced at only RM28 while his mandarin oranges are being sold at RM11 and above per carton, depending on the size of the fruits.

Those unwilling to buy large quantities can purchase the sweet tangerines at only RM4 per kilo.

"I cannot raise my prices because I will lose customers. Mostly locals come to buy my fruits here, unlike certain other areas which are popular with the tourists," he said.

Tun also sells a variety of fruits including dragon fruit, mangoes, pink guavas, persimmons and even pomelos and durians, both grown in his own orchard.

His pomelos are priced between RM5 and RM10 while his durians are about RM10 per fruit. -The Star/Asia News Network

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