SANDAKAN: A huge crowd thronged the Madani Rahmah Sales Programme at Bandar Ramai-Ramai here yesterday to purchase necessities at cheaper prices in preparation for the Ramadan month.
Most of the visitors interviewed by Bernama described the Rahmah Sales as a platform that helps those in the B40 group, who are also recipients of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah cash assistance, to save on expenditure.
AdvertisementVisitor Maryam Abbas Rauf, 40, said although she is five months pregnant, it did not stop her from attending the Rahmah Sales in Bandar Ramai-Ramai as she wanted to buy basic items that are cheaper and stock up for the fasting month.
“Today, I spent a bit more as I bought quite a lot of items, such as eggs, sugar, sardines and sauces. The items were cheaper by about RM3 to RM5 at the Rahmah Sales compared to the original price.
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Another visitor, 58-year-old Dariya Alimudin said the Rahmah Sales programme helped ease the burden of those in the B40 group, especially in managing their household expenses.
Advertisement“The fasting month is coming up and we will require more necessities. This Rahmah Sales not only helps ease our preparations but is also cost-saving.
“For example, I could buy shallots for RM9.10 per kilogramme (kg) compared to RM13 elsewhere; Maggie curry noodles for RM3.85 (RM.50… I also took the opportunity to purchase various types of dry goods that can be kept for use during puasa (fasting), such as noodles and sardines,” she said.
AdvertisementDariya, of Kampung Kombo, said she found out about the sales programme through messages her friends shared on their WhatsApp group today and hopes that the Rahmah Sales could be held weekly instead of just twice a month.
Sixty-four-year-old Kimi Binui of Kampung Lela said she was willing to walk to the Rahmah Sales site and purchase whatever necessities needed for Ramadan as the prices were way cheaper during happy hour.
According to her, one can purchase a 2kg pack of Buruh cooking oil (original price: RM13.30) for RM10 at the Rahmah Sales or RM8 during happy hour.
“We are not rich people but since the government is providing various types of assistance, we must be smart in taking advantage of them. However, not all the items will have their prices slashed during happy hour, only certain items. Hopefully, more goods will be sold at cheaper prices during that one-hour session,” she said.
Sixty-five-year-old Taha Salleh of Kampung Karamunting hailed the government for continuing with the Madani Rahmah Sales Programme this year, thus enabling them to stock up for Ramadan.
“My wife and I came to Bandar Ramai-Ramai today after learning about the Rahmah Sales. We decided to buy things for Ramadan… we are thankful that this programme is being continued and we can purchase goods at lower prices.
“But, if possible, there must be bigger quantities of the items sold because many who come late or are at the back of the queue often end up going home empty-handed because most of the basic items would be sold out,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had said that for this year, the ministry is targeting having at least two Rahmah Sales programmes a month in every state constituency nationwide.
He added that the sales programme would be expanded as part of its intervention measures by offering prices that are 10 to 30 per cent cheaper compared to the market prices.
