By Nur Ashikin Louis
Kuching, Aug 5: Members of the public can get essential goods at up to 20 per cent discount at the ‘Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia’ or Malaysian Family Aspiration Tour (JAKM) held near Stadium Perpaduan in Petra Jaya here beginning today until Sunday (Aug 7).
A check by DayakDaily on the site saw many visitors queueing up in front of the booths for ‘Jualan Keluarga Malaysia’ or Malaysian Family Sales selling products such as rice, cooking oil, chicken and eggs, fruits and vegetables, seasoning and packaged food.
These booths are owned by Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), State Fishermen’s Association of Sarawak (PENESA), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI), Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission of Malaysia (SKM) and others.
According to Everrise Commercial Director Arif Kwan, each consumer is only allowed to buy a maximum limit of one unit per item except for cooking oil (maximum limit of three packets), whole chicken (two birds) and eggs (one crate) at KPDNHEP booths.
“The main objective is to reduce the cost of living for our customers and generally, the community in Sarawak. We are very happy to contribute to this programme (through the collaboration with KPDNHEP),” he told the press at the programme.
KPDNHEP Sarawak Deputy Director Peter J Berinus Agang also informed the press that by 1pm, just over three hours of operation on the first day of JAKM, almost 80 per cent of the products were sold.
“By the looks of certain products selling quickly today, we will try to increase the number of products to meet the demands of consumers who will come on the next two days.
“The Jualan Keluarga Malaysia programme started since last year and the ministry is still in talks to continue such programme in ensuring that the targeted group – B40, can benefit from buying daily necessities at lower prices,” he said.
The three-day JAKM which is held from 9am to 9pm, is led by the Ministry of Works (MoW) in collaboration with Sarawak government as the host, while the Shared Prosperity Delivery Unit (Sepadu) under the Prime Minister’s Department is the main organiser and coordinator of the programme.
The JAKM also provides 28 government service booths; Malaysian Family Job Guaranteed Career Carnival with 27 employers and 1,720 vacancies up for grabs; SME Corp’s Business Matching Programmes involving 7 local market companies, cooperatives, logistics companies, and e-commerce platform providers; 10 booths on Malaysian Family Taste; and 80 exhibitions and sales booths of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs.
There are also interesting programmes being held such as ‘Malam Zikir Berkah Darul Hana’; JAKM Fun Run and Fun Ride (cycling); MoW’s Innovation and Technology of Construction Industry Exhibition; ‘Kenduri Rakyat’ or ‘Pengilan’ (People’s Feast); Riuh Gegar Sarawak concert; cultural performances; Bintang Patriotic Competition; e-sports competition and traditional games; Malaysian Information Department’s Pentarama artists audition as well as lucky draws.
At JAKM’s Traditional Games booth owned by Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED), visitors are able to try their hand at congkak (mancala), ‘batak lampung’, ‘sumpit’ (blowpipe), ‘tingting’, dart, carrom and basketball.
Meanwhile, gamers are also welcome to play the Fifa series of football games for free or watch the tournament for Fifa, Mobile Legends and PUBG at the e-sports booth operated by Haq Global Enterprise, a private company based in Kuala Lumpur.
DayakDaily also managed to get the response of visitors met at the venue who expressed their satisfaction on the JAKM programme. — DayakDaily
“I have visited several booths so far and I have gained a lot of information relating to the construction industry, solar lightings and so on. It was very informative and I really enjoyed the exhibitions.” – Christian Lim, 37, administrative officer
“I believe that I have saved a lot of money from buying the products available at the JAKM booths compared to the outside market. In a way, I am able to buy two items with a price meant for a single item.” – Sha Fiza, 32, government servant
“Despite being a local, it is my first time trying the ‘sumpit’ (blowpipe) at the JAKM’s Traditional Games booth which I have only seen on television all this while. After my attempt on sumpit, I feel happy and took pride as a Sarawakian to have the opportunity to try the ‘sumpit’ which is our cultural heritage belonging to the Sarawak natives.” – Abdullah Wasli, 32, civil servant
