PAPAR: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has called for a higher allocation for the Rahmah Madani Sales Programme (PJRM) under upcoming 2027 National Budget to meet growing public demand for cheaper essential goods following rising in cost of living.
Its Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said he hoped the Ministry of Finance (MOF) would consider such request so as to enable the initiative to be expanded as the public response on PJRM is extraordinary since 2023.
He said PJRM had evolved from a government-led cheap sales programme launched under the Payung Rahmah agenda in 2023 as an ad-hoc initiative into a permanent government initiative with a dedicated allocation since 2024.
“PJRM recorded 9.2 million transactions in 2023 when it was first piloted and largely implemented on an ad-hoc basis, and increased to 12.8 million in 2024 and the figure rose to more than double to 27.5 million transactions last year (2025) following an increase in the allocation.
“Positively, the PJRM’s transactions have surged to 31.8 million from Jan 1 until Sept 23, 2026, reflecting increasing public demand for the cost-of-living initiative.
Thus, this represents a very positive and strong response from the people.
“The rising in these transactions demonstrated the growing frequency with which consumers were making purchases through PJRM that offers essential goods at prices between 10 and 30 per cent lower than prevailing local market prices. Thus, this justified the need for PJRM be given additional funding for 2027 Budget,” he said.
Armizan who is also Papar MP said this in a press conference at a ‘Majlis Selawat and Tadabbur Syukbah Wanita’ organised by women of Papar Parliamentary at a district Masjid here on Sunday.
About 1,500 people attended the program including Yayasan Sabah Group director cum Kawang assemblyman Dato’ Sri Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar, Pantai Manis assemblyman Datuk Pengiran Saifuddin Pengiran Tahir Petra and other officials.
“Given this overwhelming response, we hope that the MOF would consider our proposal to raise the allocation of PJRM for 2027 Budget. We are aware that the government is operating amid fiscal constraints, particularly with global conflicts, including those in the Middle East, contributing to higher fuel and other costs that could affect the prices of goods and building materials.
“Nonetheless, we hope the government continues to implement the existing cost-of-living initiatives, especially those with high impact that deliver targeted assistance such as PJRM.
“Consumer subsidies, social assistance and welfare support should not be compromised,” he said, while adding that he would let MOF to decide on the amount for PJRM under 2027 Budget.
Armizan said the PJRM allocation had been increased from RM300 million when the programme was institutionalised in 2024 to RM600 million this year under the Payung Rahmah agenda.
Hence, he said the additional allocation is needed to enable the programme to be held more frequently and through a wider variety of mechanisms.
HE said PJRM is organised through various formats, including at business premises, outside premises and mobile sales, as well as themed programmes such as Payday PGRM, Festive Season PGRM and Back-to-School PGRM.
“The initiative covers urban, rural and remote areas, with every state constituency required to organise at least three Rahmah Sales programmes annually under KPDN’s current key performance indicator,” he said.
Meanwhile, Armizan said KPDN will introduce PJRM calendar stickers starting Oct 1, at high-traffic public locations this year to improve public awareness of upcoming sales on PJRM nationwide.
He said the stickers will display a QR code linking the public directly to the PJRM calendar, allowing them to check the dates, times and locations of upcoming sales programmes in their respective areas.
“We introduce this new initiative as the ministry notices that there are still some people who are unaware of the PJRM schedule despite the availability of the ministry’s website, PJRM Takwim Calendar and the ‘Info Jualan Rahmah’ application on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
“The stickers, to be placed at public-focused locations and accessible such as places of worship, public housing areas, public markets, tamu, halls, community centres and government offices, bus stations and business premises with the consent of premise owners,” he said.
Armizan said KPDN would continue improving PJRM and hoped the increased allocation would allow the programme to reach more people and be implemented on a larger scale under Budget 2027.
