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A LARGE-SCALE price reduction campaign involving all Bataras supermarket outlets across Sabah has been launched as part of ongoing efforts to help ease cost-of-living pressures faced by consumers, with thousands of essential goods offered at reduced prices.
The Kempen Turun Harga @ Bataras initiative, organised by Bataras Sdn Bhd, runs from 15 April to 30 June 2026 and covers all 58 branches of the retail chain statewide, including outlets in Papar.
Under the campaign, approximately 9,000 selected items are being sold at discounts ranging from 3 per cent to as high as 70 per cent below original prices, providing households with access to more affordable daily necessities during the promotional period.
Bataras, which has operated in Sabah since 1998, said the initiative reflects its role as a domestic retail player contributing to efforts to ease financial burdens on consumers amid persistent inflationary pressures.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali welcomed the campaign, describing it as part of broader industry participation in supporting household spending power during a period marked by global supply disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties affecting prices.
He said such initiatives should be expanded and replicated by other retailers as part of a wider shared responsibility to protect consumer welfare and stabilise household expenditure.
“The campaign is also aligned with the government’s “whole-of-nation” approach to managing cost-of-living challenges, which remain closely tied to external economic conditions,” he said.
In a related policy development, the government has announced the expansion of the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan as part of efforts to improve fuel subsidy targeting and strengthen distribution efficiency.
Under the scheme, registration for eligible land transport logistics companies in the three regions will open on 4 May 2026, allowing qualified operators to access subsidised diesel priced at RM2.15 per litre.
The programme will operate through a fleet card system, requiring approved companies to apply via designated fuel providers using official approval documents and vehicle listings generated under the SKDS platform.
Full details of the registration process are expected to be released on 1 May 2026, with companies advised to ensure all documentation, including valid business registration and current road tax for vehicles, is in place ahead of application.
Armizan added the expansion aims to improve subsidy targeting while maintaining logistical efficiency, particularly in East Malaysia’s transport and distribution network. - April 26, 2026
