Many Malaysians who had stakes in the business sector are watching the numbers in March. They say, “March will give you the signs.”

For January and February, the figures are generally on the uptrend. Most contracts end in December the previous year, and payments are collected auspiciously before the Chinese New Year. And of course, the retail sector boosted due to massive spendings in the year-end and pre-Chinese New Year period.

And come March, businesses will usually take a breather, before it picks up again to normal levels. Such is the condition of a normal and healthy business cycle. Yet, many business people has had the same premonitions. The financial institutions’ collapse in the Western worlds will not have mercy on anyone. You can deny till the cows come home but no economy in this world works in isolation, not since the days of the spice trade. It’s not surprising that the more conservative of these business people had already started digging bomb shelters when they heard Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11.

If the figures in their balance sheets does not show any improvements by end of March and April, the economy of Malaysia, regardless of what the Government would want you to believe- is going to have a ride down the rollercoaster.

As shrewd as these business people has always been, they waste no time in changing the course of their ships. Besides digging bomb shelters, many has also been anticipating the downturn with an opportunistic attitude. Some claimed that this is the best time to squeeze their landlords. Some says that government would finally get rid of unnecessary tax and tarriffs. Also, trades amongst neighbouring countries will see improvements in terms of reduced tarriffs and less stringent import regulations.

Let’s see what the March Hare has had to say.

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