KR1M has defeated its purpose

A DAP leader compares the prices of goods in the market only to find that some 1Malaysia products are more expensive than those of other brands.

KUALA LUMPUR: After all hell broke loose when Minister Ismail Sabri called on Malays to boycott Chinese traders who refused to lower the prices of their goods, a DAP leader has actually done some legwork only to find that some of the government’s very own 1Malaysia products are costlier than other brands.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng took the trouble to compare the prices of certain goods at a Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) outlet in Jalan Raja Laut with that of a Tesco hypermarket in Jalan Kuching and found KR1M products more expensive, the Malay Mail Online said.

“KR1M has defeated its purpose,” Lim said of the products targeted to those of the low-income bracket and asked the agriculture and agro-based industries minister, “Will (Ismail Sabri) call on the rakyat to boycott KR1M?”

Taking a far less antagonistic stand however, Lim said that DAP would not call for a boycott of KR1M products but merely advise consumers to be wise when shopping.

Among the products Lim highlighted:

• 1-litre bottle of bleach, priced at RM1.29 at Tesco, but RM2.60 at KR1M;
• 1-litre bottle of dishwashing liquid going for only RM1.99 at Tesco, but RM2.90 at KR1M
• 700-gram bottle of Nestle strawberry yoghurt drink priced at RM4.79 at Tesco, but RM5.20 at KR1M

Ironically enough, KR1M was established as part of a government initiative to address the increasing cost of living.