TANAH MERAH - Consumers want the government to hold the Rahmah Sales programme frequently so that they get more opportunities to buy their daily necessities at cheaper prices.
Husin Deraman, 70, who is a rubber tapper, said the programme should also be held in villages as the average resident does not have a fixed income and has difficulties coping with the increase in the prices of goods.
"As a rubber tapper, with a child who is in Form Four, I do feel the burden of the increase in the prices of goods, more so because I do not have a fixed income, and the situation will be worse with the unpredictable weather as I cannot go out to tap, hence no income," he said when met by Bernama at the Rahmah Sales programme on the grounds of Pasar Awam Kampung Gual Ipoh here today.
Housewife, Suhaila Abullah, 38, said the programme helps her to buy essential items such as rice and eggs at prices cheaper than in the market.
"I save RM6 if I buy 10 kilogrammes (kg) of rice at the Rahmah Sales programme compared to the regular price. If I spend RM100 today, I can save RM15 compared to when I buy these items on normal days, said Suhaila, who lives in Kuala Tiga.
"We hope this programme (Rahmah Sales) will be continued in the village as this will save us from having to fork out extra costs for bus fare and petrol for the car in having to come to town to buy these items."
Meanwhile, Tiga Ku Empire manager Mohd Hazli Che Ghazali said consumers mostly get their supply of rice, sugar, cooking oil and eggs at the Rahmah Sales programme.
"For the programme today, we are providing 750 packets of rice, 80 bundles (1,920 kg) of sugar, and 1,700 kg of cooking oil as well as other essential items to be sold to consumers,” he said, adding that the people gathered as early as 7 am at the compound of the market, although the programme only started at 8.30am.
A Bernama survey of the Rahmah Sales programme found goods being sold at cheaper prices. These goods included imported rice which was sold at RM34 per 10 kg compared to the original price of RM40, and 1 kg of chicken at RM6.90 compared to the normal price of RM8.20. - BERNAMA