By Shamz Johan and Azian Aziz
SELAYANG, Feb 13 — The cooperation between state constituencies and local leaders has made the running of the Jualan Ehsan Rakyat (JER) affordable basic necessities sales programme much more smoother.
Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) marketing division officer Nur Nazira Ahmad said for JER 2.0, many improvements have been made, including a queue number system operated by state constituency office volunteers, as well as local residents.
“Most locations where JER takes place use a queue number system to help things run in an orderly manner, especially when it is crowded. Patrons will be called in order to make purchases, thus helping to disperse congestion and long queues.
“Even if a shopper does not manage to obtain a queue number, they can still make purchases once all the numbers have been called,” she said during the programme for the Kuang state constituency, earlier today.
Nur Nazira added the ‘bring your own reusable bag’ campaign that began this month has also been well-received by the residents.
“Once we began to disseminate the campaign among residents, many began to follow the recommendations by bringing bags and small trolleys to carry goods, particularly for wet goods like chicken and meat,” she said.
The cooperation between state constituencies and local leaders such as Joint Management Bodies (JMB) and Residents’ Associations proved to be helpful in exerting control over large crowds.
“Local leaders know the residents or members in their area. So they are most helpful in conveying information and announcements, as well as managing population congestion,” Nur Nazira said.
Meanwhile, the response of local residents over JER appears to be improving, as Kuang state constituency coordinating representative Zarina Mohd Hassan said many are pleased with the regular affordable sales programme.
“Alhamdulillah, both the response and cooperation among residents have been very good. It has been held repeatedly for Kuang, with many providing positive feedback and benefitting thus from it,” she said.
Zarina said the state constituency focuses JER locations in apartments and flats, so as to organize the PKPS-led programme there.
“The state constituency coordinators concentrate on flats. Through the cooperation of JMBs and Residents’ Associations, we can deliver information, announcements and promotions via the local leaders,” Zarina said.
Elsewhere, the community service centre for the Meru state constituency has spent up to RM12,500 in covering the expenses of 250 individuals who have been unable to afford JER’s basic goods.
Meru state constituency special officer Norlena Nayan said the individuals include the elderly, married couples who have been dismissed from their jobs, those in the asnaf category, single mothers with many children, and the disabled, who receive RM50 per person.
“A total of 25 people will receive RM50 in assistance each time JER is conducted. Since January 15, a total of 10 JER programs have been conducted in Meru.
“Hopefully this aid will be able to ease their burdens in purchasing the goods on sale,” she said during the programme for Meru at Masjid Al-Falah in Kampung Budiman, earlier today.
Norlena said following this, Meru in collaboration with PKPS organise 10 more JER programmes.
“The next one will be on Wednesday (February 15) at the Batu 8 ½ pasar malam site, followed by one along Jalan Meru Tambahan and Taman Desa Indah Meru on February 19,” she said.
The current iteration, JER 2.0, will run from January 15 to March and encompass involving 11 locations every day, compared to nine locations before.
An estimated two million Selangor residents have benefitted from the programme, which has since visited 693 locations across 56 state constituencies.
The state government initiative offers standard chicken at RM10 per piece, fresh solid beef (RM10 per pack), Grade B eggs (RM10 per pack), mackerel or sardines (RM6 per pack), 5kg cooking oil (RM25) and 5kg rice (RM10 ).
