KOTA KINABALU: The Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat programme (PJSR), a price reduction fair for essentials aimed at reducing people's burden, will be held twice a month in each parliamentary area nationwide.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced this when launching the state-level fair at Dataran Bandaraya here.
To mark the PJSR launch, Najib also announced further reduction of prices for five food items.
"The Beras Super VWR 10kg from RM23.80 market price and the PJSR price RM20, for today's programme launch we are offering buy one free one. The same offer for the 5kg pack (RM12.40 market price, RM10 PJSR price).
"Dressed chicken which is at RM8.50 per kg based on the market price and RM10 PJSR price for one whole chicken, is further reduced to RM5 per whole chicken.
"Beef (RM25 per kg market price and RM20 per kg PJSR price) is reduced to RM15 per kg.
"Grade C eggs (30 pieces) with RM11.40 per tray market price and RM8.50 per tray PJSR price, is available at RM5 per tray.
"Milo 400 grammes sold at RM8.40 per pack market price and RM6.90 per pack PJSR price, is further reduced to RM5 per pack," he announced to the cheers of those present.
During the event, Najib also announced an additional RM5 million allocation for Biz Fair grant, aimed to help would-be entrepreneurs nationwide, topping up the current RM5 million allocation.
The Biz Fair programme launched simultaenously at the event by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), is aimed to provide initial capital up to RM3,000 for would-be entrepreneurs in Sabah, in the form of equipments.
"Any programme done by the government is (based on) the people first (policy).
"So you can know if you attend a Barisan Nasional programme, you will benefit but if you follow opposition (programme), you would not know what to expect," he said.
Najib said as the ruling government, the coalition will not stand still when there are issues affecting people like the increasing cost of living.
He took example of the PJSR programme which was held to ensure prices of essential goods remain affordable.
He said there are those keen to solely gain profits by rising prices as they wish, and put the blame on government saying it was the Good and Services Tax (GST).
Najib reminded Malaysia has a low rate of only six percent GST rate compared to other countries, and that 578 basic and essential items are exempted.
With revenue collected, the government is able to distribute the 1Malaysia People’s Aid or BR1M, with Sabah allocated RM600 million this year.
Meanwhile the PJSR allows consumers to purchase daily essentials such as poultry, rice, cooking oil and sugar at rates that are 5 percent to 20 percent lower than the market price.
Launched on Jan 20, a total of 458 fairs have been conducted nationwide involving RM20 million in sales receipt.
In Sabah alone, 31 series of PJSR have been carried out involving RM2.77 million in sales with 75,000 visitors recorded.