Sentuhan Rakyat sale helps bring down cost of living

GEORGE TOWN: Imagine a small can of sardine sold for only 20 sen, with other necessities available at cheaper prices compared to the market!
They can be purchased at the 'Sentuhan Rakyat' Sale programme which is being held nationwide in an effort to help alleviate the cost of living of the people.
It isn't surprising that the sale has been well received by the people who are willing to come as early as two hours before opening time. All the items are sold out within two hours.
Customers who visited the sale around Penang expressed their satisfaction and praised the Federal Government for its effort, and hoped that such programmes would continue in the future.
Yasin Sultan Mydin, 49, a taxi driver, told Bernama: "This is a very good programme. All the kitchen necessities required on a daily basis are available here and sold at cheap prices".
Housewife, Bibi Abdul Kadir, 68, was also grateful for the programme which helped greatly in reducing the burden faced by the people.
"The prices are cheap, very affordable. For those who are facing hardship, Insya-Allah, they too can afford them, as the prices are much lower than the supermarkets. I hope it (the sale) will be widened so that all the people in the country can buy the necessities at cheaper prices," she said.
A survey done by Bernama found that the items sold were between RM1-5 cheaper than those sold at supermarkets and grocery shops.
For example, sweetened condensed creamer was sold at RM1.50 compared to the usual price of RM2.60, while disposable diapers were sold at RM28.90 (compared to RM33 and RM35 at other shops).
Meanwhile, Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said the party was always looking at ways to help the people reduce their cost of living.
"We in Penang have held the programme in every parliamentary constituency. In some constituencies it is held once a month, while some hold it twice a month," he said.
Zainal Abidin, who is also Penang Federal Action Council chairman said a subsidy of RM47,300 was given for each sales program.
"Through this programme, we provide RM47,300 in subsidy which covers 30 main items such as fish, vegetables, eggs, flour, etc. The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) and other supermarkets also assist with the programme.
"So far, we have implemented eight such programmes, and we find that within two hours, the items are sold out as they are cheap, and can reduce the cost of daily living for the people of Penang," he said. — Bernama