Mara Digital only a choice, not competition, says Ismail Sabri

BERA: Certain parties are unhappy over the existence of Mara Digital and have resorted to spreading malicious allegations to ensure the digital entrepreneur centre for Bumiputeras will fail claimed Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister said those involved were believed to be doing so to protect their monopoly in the digital sector.

"The move to set up Mara Digital is not to compete with anybody but to provide suitable business premises to Bumiputera traders, which is in line with Mara's role.

"This is because all this while, Bumiputeras in this sector find it difficult to get a place, and even if there are (shops available), the rentals are quite high and beyond the reach of many," he told reporters after attending a Back To School programme of the Mara Education Foundation.

In this regard, he said others should not feel threatened with the existence of the Mara digital centre which was only an alternative to the existing digital centres in the country.

 "There's no need to feel threatened because Mara Digital only has 38 stalls compared to other bigger digital centres which have hundreds of booths.

"We are only giving a choice to consumers and we have never forced them to buy there, so there's no need to condemn Mara Digital," he said.

He added that the existence of Mara Digital had to a certain extent helped to invigorate the Mara arcade whose business activities were languishing. -Bernama