KUALA LUMPUR: The government is targeting 500 Kedai Ekonomi Pengguna (fair price shops) or i-KeeP stores to be set up by next year to help the people deal with the rising cost of living, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen said that as of April this year, a total of 332 i-KeeP stores had been set up, with the participation of 10 retail companies as strategic partners offering daily necessities of up to 20 per cent cheaper than market prices.
“i-KeeP has been implemented through the government’s strategic cooperation with companies of calibre, without involving government assistance. The emphasis of sales will be on basic needs such as sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour and rice.
“Apart from that, i-KeeP also sells various types of branded daily necessities by maintaining the packaging of the goods at reasonable prices,” he said when winding up the debate on the Royal Address for his ministry at the Dewan Negara sitting yesterday. — Bernama