Rehana Rossouw
With most of South Africa’s tourist economy still geared to travel in the developed world, travelling to a destination where the rand is stronger than the local currency is an exciting prospect.
So although I am the world’s worst shopper – either an impulsive buyer who ends up with goods that gather mildew or running short of vital goods because I can’t be bothered to replace them – I was determined to go on a shopping spree during a recent visit to Malaysia.
For two reasons, I came home with very little. Firstly, Malaysia’s Prime Minister and recently self-appointed Minister of Finance Dr Mahatir Mohamed fixed his ailing ringitt against the mighty US dollar, so I lost $2 on every transaction I made.
Secondly, I was aghast at the brazen pirating of goods, particularly of American brands. Malaysian goods were hard to find.
Within hours of arriving, we were informed that the best places to shop were flea markets and haggling was strongly advised as traders often inflated prices for tourists.
Fortunately, I had very little time to shop the first time I ventured to a flea market. The first stall I spotted was selling movies on cassettes, digital video discs and music CDs.
I was so amazed at the prices and the selections that I spent nearly half an hour ogling the goods before asking the prices after spotting a CD I had been promising myself for months. They were so low I forgot to haggle.
Because I was in a hurry, I grabbed the one CD (for about R6) and vowed to return for a selection of movies and music the next day. But on closer inspection, the CD was obviously a pirated copy.
And on closer inspection at the flea market the next day I realised close to 70% of the goods on sale were fake. The labels were all there: Microsoft, Paramount Pictures, Rolex, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Nike, Reebok, you name it.
My Malaysian hosts, all of them journalists, could not understand why I was so het up about the blatant piracy. Sure the Rolex (about R10) was fake, but it would last about two years, so why not buy it and impress people for a short while?
Many of the locals bought these goods, I was told. A Malaysian journalist, who had a son the same age and as computer-game crazy as mine, wholeheartedly recommended that I buy Microsoft Encarta (about R8) and the latest in computer games (for about R6 each). Her son only bought pirated games, she said.
Much as I was tempted, I couldn’t. I know pirating is illegal in South Africa and I feared confiscation at the airport. I was also concerned that I might be asked to pay duty on the prices of legal equivalents when I went through customs. And I knew it was wrong.
So all I have to declare is one CD. But about five members of the group with whom I travelled to Malaysia brought extra suitcases while they were there to cart home their loot.