FRESH produce and essential goods some 20% cheaper than market prices will now be available in Penang through a state-backed sales programme.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the “Jualan Sejahtera Pulau Pinang” programme, organised by the state government and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), aimed to ease cost-of-living pressures by ensuring people had access to essential items at lower prices.
The sales will be held in selected spots.
“This is a joint effort to bring products directly to the people and ensure they have access to adequate supplies at lower-than-market prices,” he said after launching the programme at Masjid Al-Amin in Sungai Dua, north Seberang Perai.
State publisher Buletin Mutiara reports that consumers are able to buy a combo pack of rice, cooking oil and a whole chicken for RM20, compared with the market price of RM33.
Chow said the programme would not only help households manage expenses but also provide local entrepreneurs and small traders with opportunities to market their products.
Penang Fama director Mohd Hafiz Nurulhuda said more locations would be added to the programme’s roadshow.
The state has also allocated RM3.286mil in one-off aid for padi and vegetable farmers to help them cope with rising costs.
Chow said 5,567 padi farmers and 1,005 vegetable growers would each receive RM500, with payments to be made soon.
He said the assistance recognised farmers’ contributions towards ensuring stable food supply and strengthening Penang’s food security.
“To date, Penang has 11,858ha of active padi fields cultivated by 5,567 farmers, with an average yield of 4.69 metric tonnes per hectare.
“For the vegetable sector, 1,005 farmers produced 10,648 metric tonnes of vegetables throughout 2025, underscoring their important role in supporting the state’s food supply,” he said after visiting the Penang branch of Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) in Pinang Tunggal.
Chow said the state would continue strengthening the agri-food sector through technology adoption and modern farming practices to improve productivity.
Present at the launch were state rural development, agrotechnology, food security and entrepreneurship committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol, Pinang Tunggal assemblyman Bukhori Ghazali, deputy state secretary (Development) Datuk Mohamed Abdul Rahman, Mardi deputy director-general (Research) Dr Asfaliza Ramli and Mardi Penang director Dr Nurulnahar Esa.
