By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Feb 22 — The state government looking at more practical methods as part of its effort to eventually replace the Jelajah Ehsan Rakyat (JER) affordable basic necessities sales programme, which is slated to end in May.
State executive councillor of agriculture and agro-based industries Izham Hashim said doing so will ensure that programmes which can help people save can be implemented in the long term.
“The JER roadshow may not be repeated again once it ends in May. To this, will replace it with new methods like the food pack concept.
“However, the new methods are currently still being researched, and we need to see what can replace JER. Something that can be maintained, rather than merely providing subsidies that are limited to certain periods only,” he told SelangorKini yesterday.
On the possibility of adding more types of goods for sale in JER during the upcoming Ramadan period, Izham said there are no plans to do so, as the six basic necessities sold are sufficient.
“For the fasting month, the programme and its items will remain on sale. We initially tried to add items like bread but were unable to do so as it has an expiration date.
“At present, the six items are enough to meet shoppers’ daily needs, with the response encouraging, based on the long queues,” he said.
Running from 10am to 1pm, JER’s variety of items for sale include standard chicken at RM10 per pack, fresh solid beef (RM10 per pack) Grade B eggs (RM10 per tray), mackerel fish (RM6 per pack), 5kg cooking oil (RM25) and 5kg bags of rice (RM10).
Carried out by the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS), it has benefitted over two million Selangor residents during its run from September to December last year.
The enthusiastic public response has led the state government to expand JER to 1,200 locations, which began on January 15 and will run on until May.
Members of the public seeking more information on its sales locations from time to time may visit linktr.ee/myPKPS to do so.
