KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will explore mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of the Rahmah Sales initiative so that the Bottom 40 will continuously benefit from affordable prices of goods.

Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said they will engage with several hypermarkets on the possibility of them going on rotation to offer Rahmah Sales.

"We realise it is impossible for one hypermarket to put up Rahmah Sales throughout a year. We want to engage with them if they could take turns to offer the Rahmah Sales initiatives, perhaps every three months.

In this way affordably priced goods can be offered to the (B40) group throughout the year," he said at the launch of 99 Speed Mart Hari Raya Rahmah Sales at its Bukit Jalil branch here.

Also present were ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Muhd Yusof, enforcement director Datuk Azman Adam, Kuala Lumpur Ministry director Ariffin Samsudin and 99 Speed Mart director of branches operation Yong Eng Kwang.

Salahuddin said that the success of the Rahmah Sales initiatives depended on not compromising on quality, something that is not being forced by the government and done mutually, and giving the rakyat access to affordable goods.

He said the ministry conducts engagement sessions with businesses on the matter, and this is done several times before any decision was made.

He said the ministry does not force any trader to be part of the Rahmah Sales initiative.

He said he had also spoken to 99 Speed Mart on creating social supermarkets or hypermarkets, which are similar to initiatives done in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe to ease the financial burden of the underprivileged.

He said the proposal was still being discussed.

"We can do this in this country, too. We will do a pilot project near Kuala Lumpur, which will then be expanded," he added.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/892086/ministry-explore-ways-make-rahmah-sales-sustainable-says-salahuddin