‘If Mara Digital expensive, consumers have a choice’

Consumers can choose whether to buy electronics from Mara Digital or otherwise if they find them to be expensive.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this in response to a survey conducted by Chinese daily Oriental Daily which found prices of gadgets at the new digital mall for bumiputera traders were generally higher than those at Low Yat Plaza.

“We practise a free market; anyone is free to conduct businesses,” he said in a press conference in Shah Alam tonight.

“As for consumers, they are free to make choices, we are only providing an alternative to existing electronics malls.

“It is up to consumers to see for themselves and to make their own decisions whether to buy (the electronics) or otherwise.”

Therefore it was up to consumers to make their decisions if they find that the electronics sold at Mara Digital were expensive or lacking in quality, he said.

“But it’s good that Oriental Daily said they are expensive. (I therefore) invite more consumers to see for themselves whether it is true or otherwise,” he said.

Ismail, earlier in the press conference, admitted that he was not in the know whether prices of electronics at Mara Digital were indeed expensive or otherwise.

“I’m not sure. That’s quick of Oriental Daily to conduct a survey when it’s only been one week,” he quipped.

Featuring 38 kiosks, Mara Digital, which operates at the Medan Mara building, commenced operations last Wednesday.

The new IT mall courted controversy after Ismail initially proposed the name ‘Low Yat 2’ to rival the original Low Yat Plaza following a theft incident in July that led to a race riot. -Mkini