Wong (left) greeting the shoppers coming for RS1’s ‘Program Jualan Prihatin Rakyat’ at first floor, Country Grocers here (old Giant, Jalan Ling Kai Cheng).
SIBU: Rancangan Sibu 1 (RS1) inaugural ‘Program Jualan Prihatin Rakyat’ to assist the low income group received overwhelming response, with crowds estimated at over 2,000 people, despite a downpour yesterday.
Some 4,500 essential items were put on sale at low prices.
The programme jointly organised by RS1 and Country Grocers, started from 10am to 1pm at first floor, Country Grocers here.
Despite the sale starting only at 10am, mammoth crowd were spotted already waiting outside the ground floor of premises, with People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) roped in for crowd control.
When the sale finally started at 10am, shoppers formed a beeline at the first floor of the building.
RS1 chairman Dato Andrew Wong told reporters that he was surprised with the good response especially as it was raining heavily.
“This is our first ‘Program Jualan Prihatin Rakyat’ – this is first time that we are doing on such a big scale. As you can see – the items that we offer are all good brands and cheapest prices in Sibu to help the low income group.
Overwhelming response to RS1 ‘Program Jualan Prihatin Rakyat’ at first floor, Country Grocers (old Giant, Jalan Ling Kai Cheng).
“So, we are trying to get the feedback from today (yesterday). If it is very successful – we will continue to do it every weekend until the election. This is just to help the people during this particular time.”
Wong, who is also United People’s Party (UPP) Community Service Board Sibu chairman, disclosed that they will also get feedback from the people on what are the suitable items.
“We have nine items at 500 pieces each. So, it is 4,500 items altogether on sale today (yesterday). So, we need to see what can sell; what cannot sell – we need to do it better.
“What are the suitable items for sale – some of the things that we need to add, or some of the things they don’t need.”
That aside, he mentioned that the discounted prices were purely from RS1.
“We have found private companies to do their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. So, this is how they are giving back to the community through RS1,” he pointed out.
Wong said they will be organising a similar event with different supermarkets across Sibu depending on the location.
“This is our first stop and next week, we will see where we will do it. I have to thank Country Grocers for providing the usage of their facilities,” he enthused.
Meanwhile, Episo Enterprise Sdn Bhd executive director Dato Goh Kiang Ann said the event was jointly organised by RS1 and Country Grocers, adding “for Country Grocers, we promote our products before the opening on May 8”.
Also present at the event were UPP Community Service Board Sibu deputy chairman Andrew Shilling, and board’s Social Community Development deputy chairman Andrew Ting.
Country Grocers is owned by Episo Enterprise.