Mara Digital malls in Malacca, Johor to start operations early next year

KUANTAN: Two more Mara Digital malls – in Sungai Rambai, Malacca and in Larkin, Johor – will be fully operational early next year, to enable more participation of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in retail businesses related to information and communications technology (ICT).
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said thus far, 109 Bumiputera entrepreneurs have benefited and operated their businesses in the four existing Mara Digital malls, in Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Ipoh and Kuantan.
He added that the ministry would continue to explore opportunities to create at least one Mara digital mall in each state, as ICT-related malls have a wider market.
"The ministry's long-term goal is to expand Mara Digital to the district level, after successfully opening Mara Digital in all states. However, for the district level, the scale will be smaller, similar to the ones at Mara arcades.
"We do not want Bumiputera to be left behind in ICT-related business, considering that they are also the biggest buyers of ICT gadgets," he told a media conference after opening Kuantan Mara Digital at Plaza Gambut here today.

Ismail Sabri said the ministry needed cooperation from the state governments to assist in identifying buildings that could be developed as a Mara digital mall, as in Sungai Rambai, Malacca, that was established at the Rural Transformation Centre (RTC).
This is to facilitate the ministry to waive rental payments for six months to entrepreneurs doing business at Mara Digital mall as a way to attract traders and to help them consolidate finances before starting to pay rent, he said.
Ismail Sabri added that Mara Digital was well received as Mara Digital in Kuala Lumpur recorded sales volume of RM28.3 million since its inception in December 2015.
He said buyers should rest easy about the risk of counterfeit products because the ministry's policies required officials from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) in the Mara Digital committee to ensure the authenticity of the products.
Ismail Sabri stated that in order to ensure that Bumiputera have the skills to develop ICT gadgets in the future, institutions under the ministry, such as GiatMara, have embarked on industry-related courses.
"GiatMara is offering short-term smart phone repair courses while Mara Higher Skills Colleges and Universiti Kuala Lumpur offers engineering, computer and multimedia software courses," he said. — Bernama