Prices that are hard to beat

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CUSTOMERS are returning to the Ki Fu Mini Market at Taman Kheng Tian along Jalan Van Praagh in George Town, Penang, after its owner decided to offer the 1Malaysia consumer grocery products.

This means cheaper prices for most items at the shop.

Its owner Nyew Pei Ching, 38, said the 1Malaysia products, which are between 30% and 40% cheaper than the branded ones, are now favoured by customers.

Popular items: Nyew arranging 1Malaysia products available in his shop in Jalan Van Praagh in George Town.

Nyew started selling the items after officials from the state Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry introduced him to the 1Malaysia Shop (KR1M) programme recently.

“I read the brochures that they gave me and agreed to participate by selling the products at my shop even though the profit margin is small,” he said.

Nyew added that those who bought the items were hawkers, foreign workers and local residents.

The 1Malaysia products which are currently sold at his shop are rice priced at RM11.90 (5kg) and RM22.90 (10kg), chilli sauce at RM1.80 (340gm) and RM2.30 (500gm) and oyster sauce at RM2.30 (320gm).

He said other brands of rice were sold at around RM14 (5kg) and at least RM26 (10kg), chilli sauce at RM2.60 (340gm) and RM3.20 (500gm) and oyster sauce at RM4.30 (320gm).

“I bought the products from the Mydin Hypermarket in Bukit Jambul. I only select products that are popular with my customers,” he said.

Nyew is among 11 other shopkeepers in Penang who are buying the 1Malaysia products at wholesale prices from Mydin and retailing them at their shops.

Penang Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Department director Mohd Salleh Ma’amor said sales of the 1Malaysia products were encouraging due to their cheaper price, yet standard quality.

“This is to help the low-income group as the products are between 30% and 70% cheaper than other branded ones.

“For example, a 1Malaysia bottle of mineral water costs 30sen while other brands are selling around RM1,” he said.

He added that out of the 1,800 licensed sundry shops in the state, 30 have joined the Small Retailers Transformation Programme, a project which aims to modernise these shops to increase their level of competitiveness.