JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 8 – The Johor state government wants to open more than 100 “fair price” shops or 1Malaysia Marts in the next three years in efforts to help the people tackle the high cost of living. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is also Permas assemblyman said for starters, 20 1Malaysia Marts would be opened on Nov 28 and 50 more were being planned for next year.
“The shops will be opened by a group of several cooperatives in the state with every cooperative member being a member of the 1Malaysia Marts,” he said after a ‘Khaled Prihatin” friendly visit and the launching of the Pasir Gudang (PG) Volunteer Troopers at Kampung Baru Pasir Gudang here on Saturday.
Khaled said other than the cheap prices of goods, every member of the cooperatives would enjoy a discount of three per cent for a purchase. He said 1Malaysia Marts would open business opportunities and the overall development of the value network encompassing the aspects of warehousing, marketing, branding, distribution and packaging using the cooperative concept.
“The Johor state government with the cooperation of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority has agreed to allocate RM17 million while another RM17 million will be furnished by the coalition of cooperatives involved with the aspiration to set up the 1Malaysia Marts.
On the “Khaled Prihatin” friendly visit, Mohamed Khaled, who is also Pasir Gudang Foundation chairman, said it was a programme to repair homes and infrastructure covering several aspects including basic needs, wiring, piping, painting and interior decoration. He said 10 houses of poor families were picked in the first phase with the cost of repairing a home at about RM5,000, borne by the Pasir Gudang Foundation.
