KUSKOP Holds PJMR To Provide Cheaper Goods Ahead Of Aidilfitri
BUKIT MERTAJAM, March 15 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Raya Sales Programme (PJMR) organised by the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP) can help the public obtain daily necessities at prices up to 30 per cent cheaper than market prices, thus easing the burden especially ahead of the Aidilfitri celebration.
Its Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the programme would not only help the public obtain daily necessities at cheaper prices, but would also boost cooperative business activities in Penang.
"The programme offers various basic necessities such as rice, cooking oil, canned food, meat, chicken and eggs in addition to Aidilfitri necessities such as kuih raya, chips and spices at more affordable prices and most of the items sold are obtained from the cooperatives involved, including kuih raya produced by members of the cooperative movement.
"The two-day programme offers goods about 20 per cent cheaper than the market price, but in conjunction with the 'Happy Hour' announced today, the discount has been increased to 30 per cent to help the public prepare for Aidilfitri," he said after officiating the MADANI Sales Programme organised by KUSKOP here today.
The programme, which started yesterday, was held at the Bukit Mertajam Member of Parliament Service Centre here.
Sim, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam, said PJMR is not just a sales programme, but also part of KUSKOP's efforts together with the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) to strengthen the role of cooperatives as competitive sales operators and closer to community.
He said the PJRM also offered a special offer, namely the sale of 1,000 chickens at RM4 each compared to RM12 at the normal market price and meat sold at RM26 per kilogramme was also reduced to RM23 per kilogramme with a purchase limit of one kilogramme per visitor.
"Yesterday we received about 800 visitors with a total sale of around RM30,000, we are targeting total sales of RM100,000 over the two days of organising this programme with about 1,000 to 2,000 visitors expected to attend the programme," he said.
According to him, the price offered is the result of subsidies provided by KUSKOP to ensure that goods can be sold at lower prices to consumers and the organisation of the programme is the first of its kind this year and his party plans to expand it to other areas including the island of Penang after Aidilfitri.
"If there is additional allocation, we will also consider bringing this programme to other locations to further encourage cooperative businesses," he said.
Meanwhile, KUSKOP in a statement announced that the organisation of PJMR is in line with the values of well-being in the aspirations of MADANI Malaysia which reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that the people can buy basic necessities at affordable prices while helping to reduce the pressure of spending costs, especially during preparations for the Aidilfitri celebration.
Since its introduction in 2022, this strategic initiative has recorded a cumulative sales value of more than RM5 million and directly benefited 417,816 visitors nationwide.
Meanwhile, the public took the opportunity to buy essential goods at lower prices for Raya preparations and one visitor, Zuraidah Ismail, 70, said she came specifically to buy kitchen items as early preparations for Aidilfitri.
According to her, the prices offered are much lower than in regular shops, thus helping to ease daily expenses.
"It's really cheap. That's why I came here even though there were other places selling Rahmah today, for example, the price of chicken here is RM4 per piece and the meat is only RM23 per kilogramme," she said, who came with her husband Abdul Rahman Ahmad, 83.
Another visitor, Zulkifli Saad, 53, said the price of chicken sold at the location was much cheaper than the market price, and he even queued for less than 20 minutes to buy chicken even though many people wanted to buy it.
"The initiative to sell essential items, especially chicken and meat, is very helpful, especially when people are preparing for the festive season. The price of chicken sold here is much cheaper than the market price, which is usually more than RM12 per piece based on its size," she said.
-- BERNAMA
