MPH Bookstore to close several outlets in malls in Malaysia
Image adapted from: Zatika Izati Puade
Malaysians have been keeping their love of books alive and kicking during the Movement Control Order (MCO) by shopping at online bookstores from the comfort of their couch.
But it’s still been a struggle for bookstores that have remained shut for over 2 months even as guidelines are now relaxing under CMCO. This includes MPH Bookstore, with an outlet in MyTOWN KL that has massive moving-out clearance sales and packing boxes already seen at its premises. Netizens have also spotted closures at other branches.
Netizens spot MPH outlets closing down
Photos of the MPH Bookstore outlet at MyTOWN KL set to close on 6th June 2020 were shared on Facebook by netizen Zatika Izati Puade on 1st June.
Image adapted from: Zatika Izati Puade
While we’re waiting for an official statement from MPH Group – which operates MPH Bookstore – about the series of store closures, photos shared by Zatika show stacked packing boxes in front of empty bookshelves at the MyTOWN KL outlet.
Clearance sale at MPH Bookstore outlet at MyTOWN
Image credit: Zatika Izati Puade
And while MPH is already known for its markdowns that have been attracting bookworms to their 29 outlets nationwide, there are now also massive sales of up to 70% at the MyTOWN KL outlet’s Moving-Out Clearance Sale.
Empty bookshelves and massive discounts
Image adapted from: Zatika Izati Puade
Stationery can also be seen slowly vanishing from shelves too – which is an odd sight for those for whom MPH used to be a go-to spot to stock up on not just books but also stationery.
Image credit: Zatika Izati Puade
More recent stocks, such as newly released books, remain the same on shelves for now.
Netizens mourn the closure of MPH Bookstore outlets near them
The news was also shared on Twitter by netizen @khairzawawi, where it garnered over 10,600 retweets and 11,700 likes at the time of writing. Many responded online to report that outlets near them had also been closed, with local residents spotting the shut doors of MPH outlets in Subang Parade (Subang Jaya), Mydin MITC (Melaka), Taman Universiti Park (Johor), and Jalan Kinta City (Ipoh).
Many more came out to mourn the news of their favourite bookstore’s branches closing, including Twitter user @aisha_hairul, who tweeted: “A moment of silence to our [favourite] bookstores.”
Image adapted from: @aisha_hairul
And it’s definitely hitting Malaysians hard, with Twitter user @adilahrshdd even commenting: “I don’t read books much, but this is so sad.”
Image adapted from: @adilahrshdd
Another Twitter user @nuifana_ shared her heartache over the potential news of her favourite outlet in NU Sentral closing its doors: “Please, not NU Sentral. That’s where I always go alone to calm my drowning soul in books [crying face emoji].”
Image adapted from: @nuifana_
MPH’s book delivery and other outlets are still available for bookworms
With the popular “Bubble Tea Street” in SS15 now looking like a ghost town, it’s safe to say that our beloved bookstore where many of us millennials share relatable childhood memories are also suffering from reduced business during the MCO.
Thankfully, even though some of its brick-and-mortar outlets may be reportedly closing, MPH Clicks shared on their official Facebook page on 16th May that they are now on GrabMart so readers can get speedy book deliveries nationwide. MPH’s official website also offers free shipping in Malaysia for purchases above RM80.
Besides their online shopping options for us to continue to support them, MPH has also promised that its delivery service will be “expanding to more areas”. We’re hoping to revisit their branches at our malls again once we have virus-free streets, because for true bookworms, nothing beats touching and feeling real paper books.
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