JOHOR BARU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has assured the public that supplies of essential goods and controlled items will remain sufficient ahead of the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said the ministry was closely monitoring the supply of controlled goods and basic necessities to ensure adequate availability throughout the campaign period and on polling day.
She said demand for such items was expected to increase with the influx of election workers, party machinery and voters returning from outside the states to cast their ballots.
“We are monitoring the Rahmah Sales Programme and at the same time checking on controlled goods and supplies to ensure they are sufficient," she told reporters.
“We know that during elections, many people come from outside, including election workers and campaign teams. We want to ensure there are no disruptions to the supply of controlled goods,” she said.
Fuziah was speaking during a walkabout session at the Madani Rahmah Sales Programme (PJRM) held at a hypermarket in Taman Daya here on Friday (July 19).
She said the ministry would continue conducting checks and engaging with suppliers and retailers to ensure the smooth distribution of essential goods throughout the election period.
According to Fuziah, the ministry was also paying close attention to any potential impact arising from higher logistics costs due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, she stressed that the current situation had not affected the availability of controlled goods and daily necessities in the country.
She added that the Rahmah Sales Programme remained one of the ministry’s key initiatives to help ease the cost of living burden faced by consumers.
“From January until June 13 this year, a total of 13,692 PJRM programmes were implemented nationwide, benefiting communities across the country," she said.
“Of that number, 920 programmes were held in Johor, covering all 56 state constituencies in the state,” she added.
Fuziah said the programmes attracted some 2.3 million visitors in Johor, reflecting strong public response to the government’s efforts to provide goods at affordable prices. The initiative also recorded over RM1.46mil transactions in the state during the period.
She noted that the encouraging participation demonstrated the continued relevance of the programme in helping households manage their daily expenses amid economic challenges.
The ministry, she added, would continue expanding the programme while ensuring the supply of essential goods remains stable and sufficient for consumers nationwide.
