Government to Introduce More 1Malaysia Products to Ease the Burden of the People

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The four per cent increase in cost of living since 1993, as seen in the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), has prompted the government to continue increasing new products through the 1Malaysia label to ease the burden of the people. Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) special director Aziyah Bahauddin said products introduced under 1Malaysia to date, has continued to receive good response and the facility would be expanded. "As an example, the number of the 1Malaysia People's Store (KR1M) is now approaching its targeted 85 stores by December. There are 48 stores operating with 19 new stores opening in July," she told a briefing on the GTP Roadmap 2.0 here Tuesday. More than 5,000 people attended the open day where members of the public could raise their views on the effectiveness of the government's transformation plan introduced by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration. He said even though goods at KR1M were sold 40 per cent cheaper than regular prices, there was no compromise on quality of the products. On 1Malaysia Menu, he said even though there were differences in prices of goods and food between the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, the actual cost was due to transportation. Aziyah said shops and restaurants involved in the 1Malaysia People's Menu were becoming more popular and by year's end, there would be more than 3,000 1Malaysia shops compared with 2,400 in operation currently. On the 1Malaysia Clinic, she said 4.6 million people received treatment at the clinics which imposed just a RM1 (US$0.31) charge since it was launched by Prime Minister Najib Razak, two years ago. She said apart from the initiatives, the government had also helped relieve the people's cost of living through the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia People's Welfare (KAR1SMA), RM100 (US$31.45) school assistance and 1Malaysia Aid Voucher for book purchase to 1.3 million university students, costing the government RM553 million (US$173.9 million). -- BERNAMA