KUALA LUMPUR: The Jualan Murah Keluarga Malaysia (JMKM) programme, which takes place from the third week of August until December, is much awaited by the public to purchase daily necessities at more affordable prices.
The programme, which offered goods at 20% lower than market prices, was held in several states yesterday and received an overwhelming response from local residents.
In Terengganu, standard chicken sold at RM6.99 per kg became the hottest selling item at a supermarket in Bukit Kecil near Kuala Terengganu.
Housewife Farah Aina Kassim, 38, was always attentive to where the programme would be held.
“Today, I bought a fairly large standard chicken for about RM16. This was cheaper compared to other places, which is around RM8 per kg,” she told Bernama.
Prior to this, Special Task Force of Jihad Against Inflation chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the JMKM programme would be held for 18 weeks in 639 state constituencies nationwide and RM80mil had been allocated through five ministries as implementing agencies.
In Melaka, a total of 28 business premises including Agrobazaar Rakyat, grocery stores, mini markets and Melaka Barat Area Fishermen’s Association are participating in the two-day programme.
A mini market operator in Taman Bukit Tembakau, Idris Minhat, 62, said although the programme offers essential goods at cheaper prices, traders still got to enjoy some profit.
Idris said customers started to throng his shop at 9am to buy rice, fresh chicken, fish, vegetables, local fruits and eggs.
In Johor, the JMKM programme held at BS Freshmart, Jalan Sri Mersing, Mersing, received encouraging response from the public.
BS Freshmart assistant manager Tan Chee Kiat said among the promotions were fresh chicken at RM6.80 per kg, ikan cencaru at RM5 per kg, while vegetables such as white radish sold at RM1 per kg, compared to the original price of RM2.80.
A customer, Aradella Ali, 31, said she was thankful for the programme and suggested that it includes more items.
In Kelantan, the programme was held at Pasaraya Jelira, Kok Lanas, and local resident Mustapa Karim, 70, commended the initiative.
“This cheap sales programme needs to continue because it truly helped the middle class and the poor. Usually, I would spend more than RM50 to buy rice, meat, chicken and eggs but today, it was less than that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pasaraya Jelira Kok Lanas owner Ahmad Deraman said a total of 200 chickens were sold out in less than two hours.
In Pahang, Asri Othman, 69, said the JMKM programme at Dataran Kerayong, Bera, allowed him to bring home a huge supply of grocery items without having to spend a lot of money.
“I came here because I wanted to see for myself the price difference. I was reluctant at first because there must be a lot of people. It was worth it especially for me as I don’t have a fixed income,” he said.
