Claims of expensive products at KR1M untrue — Ismail Sabri

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KUCHING: Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) has no control of prices of other product brands as they depend very much on suppliers’ pricing, but consumers can be assured of lower prices of 1Malaysia products compared to similar products elsewhere.

Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said KR1M stores had to sell both 1Malaysia brand of products and other brands to cater for consumers’ different needs and demands apart from providing them more options.

He said the oppositions’ claim that the prices of certain products sold at the KR1M store in Kota Padawan were more expensive compared to other supermarkets was not true as the “cheaper prices offered by other supermarkets may be prices offered during ‘special offer’ period”.

“The prices may be less during sale such as during weekend sales. But for us, we maintain our prices throughout the year. We do not have any sale,” he told a press conference here yesterday after the launching of the KR1M store at Kota Padawan.

He said 70 per cent of the products sold in the store were 1Malaysia products. They were of good quality and safe for consumption. They were also cheaper by 30 to 50 per cent compared to similar products from other famous brands.

Ismail said the opposition should not compare other brands sold in the store with different brands sold in other supermarkets.

He, however, believed consumers were smart in their spending and the purpose of setting up KR1M stores was to reduce the burden of the people.

“The government has introduced various programmes to reduce the people’s burden including book vouchers worth RM200 to students of higher learning institutions, RM100 to all pupils in primary schools and BR1M RM500 aid to households earning less than RM3,000 a month.

“Two projects have been implemented under my ministry – KR1M and ‘Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia MR1M’,” he said.

Ismail said the opposition claims were only meant to tarnish the good intention of the government in helping the people who could see for themselves the (low) prices and good quality products sold at KR1M stores.