Deputy Minister: Entrepreneurs can earn lucrative income from My Best Buy bazaars

A shopper buying pineapple (ong lai) from a stall at the Gong Xi Fa Cai My Best Buy bazaar Jalan Rajawali in Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas.

A VENDOR can earn up to RM8,000 a month through sales made at the My Best Buy bazaar.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Sim Tze Tzin said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has been organising My Best Buy bazaars from 2014 to 2018 in 469 areas throughout the country.

He added that 724 entrepreneurs nationwide had participated in the bazaar which recorded RM1.9mil in sales.

“I understand from the vendors that through such events, they can record a monthly sale of RM15,000 and the profits generated is about RM7,000 to RM8,000.

“As for small businesses, the monthly sale can go up to RM8,000 with profits of between RM2,500 and RM3,000,” said Sim, who is also Bayan Baru MP.

He also said that Fama would hold such bazaars in 180 new areas this year and hope this will generate a total sales of up to RM16mil.

“In the near future, there will be such bazaars in six new areas here. Four of them have been approved while two others are still in progress,” he said.

Sim also said that the government is currently focusing on the 3Ps — Pembungkusan, Penglabelan dan Pengredan (Packaging, Labelling and Grading) so that consumers could clearly see the labels of the items bought, understand the price and source of the items so that they would not be cheated.

The products sold at the My Best Buy bazaars are between 5 and 20 below market price, says Sim.

“As for packaging, we hope that with the help of Fama, some home-based businesses can upgrade their packaging to have the opportunity to export their products overseas,” he told a press conference after launching the Gong Xi Fa Cai My Best Buy bazaar @ Jalan Rajawali in Sungai Ara, Penang, recently.

He added that those who were interested in starting small and medium scale business, could contact Fama for help.

Sim said in conjunction with the festive season, Fama organised the ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai My Best Buy’ bazaars in 748 areas nationwide, including 18 agro bazaars in Penang between Jan 31 and Feb 4.

“All participating vendors are exempted from rental or any other charges. And, the fish and vegetables sold are shipped directly from Batu Maung and farms nearby,” he said.

He said the products were sold at 5% to 20% below market price.

“We hope through such activities, the burden of the people can be lessened.

Sim also urged the people not to waste food especially during the festive season.

“The situation of food waste in our country is very serious and it has become a habit.

“Chinese restaurants usually serve up to eight dishes for a course dinner, but a lot of times, people are already full at the fourth dish.

“If we continue to waste food, it does not only damage the environment, but it is also a disrespect to the farmers and fishermen,” Sim said.

Also present were Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir, Fama chairman Ishak Ismail and Fama director-general Datuk Ahmad Ishak.