Abang Johari (front, centre) – flanked by Juma’ani and Ameer – unveils the banners to mark the opening of promotions at Mydin Petra Jaya.
Abang Johari beats the gong to mark the grand opening of Mydin Petra Jaya. Also seen are Ameer on the chief minister’s left and Sharifah Hasidah (left). — Photos by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Mydin Petra Jaya stands as a preferred shopping destination for families in and around the city, thanks to its rich variety of products available at reasonable prices.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who officiated at the launch of the hypermarket near Vista Tunku in Petra Jaya here yesterday, said the third of this famous retail chain in Sarawak would be offering shoppers quality products at reasonable prices, enabling them to spend within their budget.
“With Mydin Petra Jaya, we can manage our household expenditure with a good estimate. We have to manage our family expenditure prudently and Mydin Petra Jaya is the means for us to do so.
“Your income and expenditure should be balanced. You cannot spend more than what you earn – or you’re in trouble. Spend prudently so that your future is guaranteed,” he said in his opening remarks.
The other two Mydin hypermarkets are the one in CityONE Megamall and another at Jalan Samariang.
Abang Johari pointed out that Mydin, which runs 26 hypermarkets nationwide, provided a platform for local entrepreneurs to market and promote their products.
In this regard, he advised local entrepreneurs to establish their networking with Mydin so as to promote their products outside Sarawak.
“Sarawakians must grab this opportunity to sell your products within the 26 chain hypermarkets across Malaysia.
“It is a win-win situation for us as well as the management of Mydin,” he said.
The chief minister added that shoppers at Mydin could also purchase products from neighbouring countries, on top of the already-wide variety of goods.
He expressed his hope that Mydin would consider expanding its business to other parts of Sarawak such as Miri, Bintulu and Limbang – should the response here turn out to be good.
Abang Johari pointed out that his Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan would set to cover Petra Jaya and Samariang – the locations of Mydin hypermarkets.
“The Petra Jaya area including Samariang will continue to be developed. We have plans to implement more housing projects in these areas, which will be linked with Kuching Isthmus – slated to emerge as the city’s new business district.”
He expressed his confidence that Mydin Petra Jaya would become the preferred shopping destination for the people of Petra Jaya.
He also noted that Mydin Petra Jaya has an open hall for the community to hold activities, believing that local leaders would make full use of the facility.
At a press conference later, Abang Johari thanked Mydin for spreading its wings to the state, adding that Sarawakians would no longer have to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the Gardenia bread range, which is available at Mydin hypermarkets here.
“So now you have a place to buy the Gardenia bread. Likewise, Sarawakian entrepreneurs can sell their products in Peninsular Malaysia through Mydin hypermarkets,” the chief minister said, adding that Mydin Petra Jaya is located on a strategic spot in the city, given that the state government is in the midst of developing Petra Jaya.
Abang Johari and his wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang met with Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin at the event, where Works Minister and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof; Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring and Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; and Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, were also present.