KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): The Keluarga Malaysia Cheap Sales (Jualan Murah Keluarga Malaysia/JMKM) programme, which commenced on Friday (Aug 19) and offers essential items at 10% to 20% cheaper, has received an encouraging response from consumers who do not want to miss the opportunity to purchase the items.

In fact, simultaneous sales for 18 weeks in 639 state constituencies nationwide and 13 parliamentary constituencies in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, are also seen not only benefitting consumers, but also helping increase the income of traders affected by the economic slowdown.

In Terengganu, auto parts salesman Azlan Yusof said the programme was timely, enabling the people, especially the B40 group, to get food items at a cheaper price, as the economic situation has been very challenging.

“Today, I buy chicken at only RM6.50 per kilogramme, compared with RM9 per kg previously. Even since the previous programme (Malaysian Family Sales), whenever I knew there was such a programme held, I would go there because I don't want to miss the opportunity to buy goods at a much cheaper price,” said the father of three to Bernama on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mini 9 Mart manager Hamizah Mohamad said in addition to buying food items and basic necessities listed in the programme, customers will also buy other items at the store.

“Hence, indirectly, the sales at my shop also increased,” said Hamizah who was excited to receive more customers since opening the business premises in Kuala Terengganu at 8am on Friday.

In Selangor, a check by Bernama at the cheap sales programme held in conjunction with the Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations Tour (AKM) at the Shah Alam Stadium grounds, found among the most popular items were standard chicken sold for as low as RM10 per bird, frozen chicken (RM5 per bird), one kilogramme (kg) of flour (RM3.20), cooking oil 5kg bottle (RM30.50), and 5kg rice (RM12).

A visitor, Siti Aishah Ismail, 42, a housewife, described the purchase as worthwhile because it was much cheaper than the market.

“Besides, the price of the chicken outside is RM9.40 per kilogramme; here we can get as low as RM10 per bird. Buying other necessities is also worth it, as they are cheap,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), in a statement announced that the cheap sales programme is implemented at least twice a month in each constituency, involving an allocation of RM80 million.

“Each constituency will be given an equal distribution of RM25,000 per month for each cheap sales programme implementation, for the period from Aug 15 to Dec 31, 2022.

“This is to provide discounted prices for selected essential items such as chicken, fish and seafood, chicken eggs, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, rice, vegetables and fruits,” read the statement.

The ministry said in addition to encouraging premises to give discounts of up to 20% compared with local market prices, all Malaysian Family members are also called upon to take advantage of the cheap prices offered by visiting cheap sales programmes at nearby locations.

The public can get the latest information on the implementation of the cheap sales programme in selected locations through the official Facebook page of JMKM or that of the KPDNHEP, and also at the states’ KPDNHEP involved.

Recently, the chairman of the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the cheap sales programme is aimed at giving people access to get cheaper goods every week.