IPOH, May 3 — With just a week to go before polling day on May 9, printing companies are aiming to take full advantage of the upsurge in demand for political banners, buntings, billboards, flyers, and posters

Printers here said business is roaring since nomination day last Saturday and are now working round the clock to meet their orders.

The owner of Dimenxion Concept Design Printing Sdn Bhd, Muhammad Faiz Reduan, 27, said his business has ramped up by as much as 80 per cent compared to normal days.

"The orders keep coming in and we have recruited five additional workers to meet the deadline,” he told Malay Mail when met at his office in Taman Cempaka here.

Muhammad Faiz said the orders had came in even before nomination day, but started to increase afterwards.

"Before nomination day, we do get some orders for political party flags and logo. But, the order has been immense for the following days.

"We received a lot of orders for buntings, banners and flyers. I turned down some of the orders as we don’t have the capacity to meet their demand,” he said.

Muhammad Faiz, who has been in the business for seven years, said the orders for the political merchandise in this election was significantly higher compared to theprevious one.  

"We have received orders from about six political parties and half of it with the dateline of 24 hours.

Muhammad Faiz does a final print check of GE14 campaign material. — Picture by Marcus Pheong

"It’s really hectic as we have to work until the wee hours at times to finish the products,” he said.

Muhammad Faiz also said they have been printing about 500 to 1,000 political merchandise every day since last Saturday. 

Image Hub owner Jesse Chan Yang Wei, 40, said that customers are rushing for the printings as this election’s campaigning period is only for 11 days.

"The candidates don’t have much time, so they are rushing for their banners and buntings.

"We can’t blame them as printing banners and buntings before the Nomination Day would be risky. Some may be moved to different constituencies and some might also be dropped,” he said.

In 2013, the campaigning period was 15 days and 13 days in 2008. The Opposition had said it wished for a period of no less than 21 days.

Chan also said that he has been working for about 10 hours every day to finish printing works. Another printer Lew Hoei Yen, 38, who owns the company Texspo Technology Sdn Bhd, said that the profit from this campaign period is considered a bonus as they can only enjoy it once every five years. "Not everyday we will have bulk printing orders. It’s like a bonus for us now,” he said.