JMKU Eases Cost Of Living, Boosts Cooperative And Entrepreneur Activities - Sim

BUTTERWORTH, May 3 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Cooperative and Entrepreneur Sales (JMKU) programme is a government initiative aimed at helping to ease the cost-of-living burden on the people, while also stimulating business activities among cooperatives and local entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the programme offers essential goods at prices 20 to 30 per cent lower than market rates, with the participation of various cooperatives, agencies and small traders.

He said today’s JMKU programme, implemented in collaboration with Sungai Puyu assemblywoman Phee Syn Tze, marks the third edition held in Penang after Bukit Mertajam and Bertam, with the support of agencies such as the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM) and the National Cooperative Movement of Malaysia (ANGKASA).

“The main focus of this programme is to help the public obtain essential goods such as rice, flour, cleaning products, chicken, meat, eggs and cooking oil at lower prices, while also providing opportunities for cooperatives and entrepreneurs to generate income.

“Additional discounts are also offered through a ‘happy hour’ promotion held from 11 am to 12 noon today, further increasing savings for consumers,” he told reporters after attending the programme today.

Sim said that at the programme, chicken priced at around RM15 in the market was sold at RM12, and further reduced to RM10 during the ‘happy hour’.

Among the main essential items in demand were dry goods such as rice, soap, cooking oil, sugar, soy sauce, milk, sardines and wheat flour, as well as fresh items including chicken, meat, fish and tiger prawns.

He added that the programme would continue to be held throughout the year, subject to allocations and financial capacity, as the prices offered are subsidised.

Sim expressed hope that such programmes could be expanded to more areas to benefit a larger number of people, particularly those in the low- and middle-income groups.

Meanwhile, Phee said the programme also serves as a platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to obtain information and access to financing through relevant agencies.

“Besides helping consumers, this programme also provides opportunities for SME players to engage with agencies such as KUSKOP to obtain information on financing and business support,” she said.

-- BERNAMA