Claims of rental increase at Mara Digital not true: Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: Claims by certain quarters that rentals for the business spaces at Mara Digital Mall in Menara Mara, here, will be increased are not true, says Rural and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the rental rates at the centre selling IT products involving Bumiputera entrepreneurs would remain the same and the ministry would keep on finding ways to safeguard their lot.
"The claims that the rentals will be raised by 5% is not true. The current rates will be maintained.
“In fact, when there were claims that sales at the mall were really bad, I went there two days ago to check out with the traders and most of them said there was no sales problem and that the percentage drop in sales did not arise.
“Perhaps one or two shops lack customers because of insufficient products and I told them to be more creative,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said to increase business at the digital mall, the ministry would carry out promotional efforts and would close Jalan Mara, that is, between Pertama Complex and Mara Building, every Saturday and Sunday, to provide more opportunities for trading.
“This matter has been discussed with the Federal Territories Minister who has agreed to it in principle,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of memorandums of understanding between 25 subsidiary companies of seven agencies under the ministry, today.
The minister said consumers should also support the products sold at Mara Digital as these products were guaranteed to be genuine.
"If they want to buy cheap, they can also do so along the roadside but the products’ authenticity is not guaranteed … but here, we do have cooperation with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to ensure that our products are of quality and genuine.
Ismail Sabri also said that two more Mara Digital outlets would open next month, namely in Medan Jaya, Ipoh on Oct 12 and in Jalan Gambut, Kuantan, Pahang on Oct 28.
On the MoU signing, he said it involved three clusters, namely education, real estate and investment, which was a continuity to the success of the first phase where the MoUs were signed on April 14.
"This MoU signing is part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy through which resources can be shared, thus reducing costs and avoiding unhealthy competition.
"I am confident we can generate more income after this and God willing, we will see two more clusters, namely retail and plantations,” he said. — Bernama