PUTRAJAYA: Operators offering meals under the Menu Rahmah programme will enjoy special discounts for raw materials and food item purchases beginning next month.
Announcing this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move is to help lessen the operators’ burden and their costs, so as to ensure the sustainability of the initiative.
He said under this initiative, operators could buy items such as chicken, onions and other basic foodstuff for meals under Menu Rahmah at a discount at selected supermarkets.
The Prime Minister said the government acknowledged contributions by Menu Rahmah operators to lessen the people’s cost of living by offering meals at affordable prices.
“We are also aware of the cost that has to be borne by the operators, especially for raw materials and food items.
“We hope this initiative will relieve the operators’ burden.
“This is also to ensure that the Menu Rahmah programme can continue to be offered as it has given great benefits to the people, especially those in the low income bracket,” he said at a press conference yesterday.
Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said operators would be able to enjoy discounts at participating supermarkets starting in the middle of May.
“The ministry is confident that through this special incentive, Menu Rahmah operators will be able to continue to offer affordable meals.
“We expect this incentive will encourage more restaurant operators to participate in this programme,” he added.
The Menu Rahmah initiative was launched on Jan 31 to offer lunch or dinner sets for as low as RM5.
According to the ministry’s record, as of April 15, there are a total of 1,706 registered Menu Rahmah operators in the country.
The Prime Minister also announced that developers involved in the construction of affordable housing would be offered cement at reasonable
rates, adding that the government is working with the Cement And
Concrete Association (C&CA) for this initiative.
This effort willfocus on affordable houses priced at RM300,000 and below.
“This will benefit those in the B40 and M40 categories, with reduction in prices of up to RM5,000 depending on the types and price of houses,” added
Anwar.
Meanwhile, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the association is offering one million tonnes of bulk cement at a price of RM290 per tonne under the Rahmah cement scheme initiative, compared to the market price of RM410.
He said the value of one million tonnes of cement will be converted into 20 million standard cement bags weighing 50kg each.
“Currently, a bag of cement in the market is priced at RM22.50 per bag and it will be reduced to RM17.50 per bag,” he said in a Bernama report.
Nga said the cement will be supplied to developers with affordable housing projects at prices that have been given incentives by cement manufacturers
and suppliers for a maximum of four years according to the construction period, which is until June 30, 2028.
The minister added that the 20 million bags of cement are sufficient for the construction of 24,000 units of affordable houses.
