Put Jamal in charge of KR1M 2.0, Umno Youth leader suggests

UMNO AGM | Impressed by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos' pop-up cheap fish stalls, Umno Youth has proposed that he be put in charge of the impending revamp of the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (1Malaysia People's Shop), KR1M 2.0.

Umno Youth information chief Jamawi Jaafar said Jamal would be able to stock the outlets with affordable goods.

"He can put in fish, basic goods, goods from Felcra, Felda and small and medium enterprises," Jamawi said during the Umno general assembly in the Putra World Trade Centre today.

He said this when debating the assembly's economic motion.

Jamal had been selling cheap fish in pop-up stores, including during the launch of his campaign in the Bukit Antarabangsa state seat.

Jamawi said that Jamal was able to sell the fish for cheap because he buys it at RM4 per kg from fishermen, and resells it for just RM5 per kg, with the profit going into administrative costs.

KR1M stores nationwide were shut down in September to facilitate an upgrade and revamp initiative.

The government is targeting to re-boot the chain as KR1M 2.0 in 2018, and offer even cheaper goods.

Mydin, the operator of the first iteration of KR1M, reportedly claimed that the stores were making huge losses.

Earlier, during the economic debate, Pahang delegate Suhaimi Sulong proposed that the government gives a chance to small-scale fruit farmers to sell the Musang King durian as well.

"For those who own small plots of land, give us the chance to reap the benefits of the Musang King industry.

"This will help solve the rising costs of living," Suhaimi said.

He added that Malays should also find new ways to make money, such as by selling honey and birds' nests.

Exports of the king of fruits has become a valuable export industry.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had noted in Budget 2018 that the price of Musang King durian had gone as high as RM800 per kg in Hong Kong.-Mkini