Consumers hope genuine participation by traders in campaign

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PENAMPANG: Consumers are hoping for genuine participation by traders in the Price Reduction Campaign launched yesterday.

Matilda Badu, a 55-year-old housewife from Kampung Inobong, said she was excited about reading news at the decision of the government to proceed with the nationwide price reduction campaign, but in the end she was turned off by the prices of goods because there was not much difference.

“Since it was a Sunday, I brought my family to check a number of supermarkets participating in the campaign. I was disappointed because I can find cheaper prices of goods in other supermarkets that are not officially attached to this campaign.

“From my understanding, the price was reduced by 70 per cent, but so far I did not see any products that I use daily being discounted by up to 70 per cent.

“I am hoping this campaign will give more genuine efforts in attracting consumers to spend wisely. I also hope traders are not using the campaign logo just to attract consumers to shop at their outlets but in the end their prices are higher compared to the non-participating supermarkets,” she said.

The Borneo Post interviewed Matilda when met at the launching of state-level Price Reduction Campaign at Milimewa Superstore located at Bundusan yesterday.

Another housewife, Mahin Ganam, who shopped with her son Madzrin Ahailin, said she was happy when she saw the reduced prices of goods.

“I saw the banner of Price Reduction Campaign outside of this superstore this morning and decided to have a look. I can see the salesgirls promoting certain food and cleansing products with discounted prices.

“Since there are a lot of people inside, I only bought fruits for my son and told him to come back in the evening. I want to buy detergent and instant noodles because I saw the new prices are cheaper than usual,” she said.

Madzrin said he would look forward to checking all discounted items in the superstore.

In conjunction with the campaign, 74 outlets of The Store Group, including 48 The Store Supermarkets, nine Pacific Hypermarkets and 17 Milimewa Superstores are participating in the price reduction campaign.

Sabah Milimewa Superstore Sdn Bhd assistant general manager Yeoh Seng Hoe said all outlets under The Store Group had reduced the prices of more than 30,000 items including groceries, toiletries, apparels and many other products, offering up to 70 per cent discount throughout the campaign period.

Yeoh said for the period of one month, The Store Group hoped that the campaign could lessen the burden of the people in the face of the rising cost of living.