Kedah: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Kedah has organised 35 MADANI Rahmah Sales Programmes (PJRM) from Jan 22-30 statewide. Its director, Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin, mentioned that the popular Back-to-School Sale was also held at selected supermarkets throughout the school holiday season.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Back-to-School programme offers 10 to 30 per cent discounts on school supplies to help parents buy basic apparel for their children, such as school uniforms and co-curricular outfits. This initiative was highlighted by Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin during the launch of the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Chinese New Year 2025.

In 2024, KPDN Kedah also implemented 525 MADANI Rahmah Sales Programmes, exceeding the stipulated target of 345, involving a subsidy of over RM7.12 million. The prime minister, in conjunction with the Budget 2025 speech, announced an increase in the ‘Payung Rahmah’ allocation to RM300 million. KPDN Kedah expects the 2025 allocation to surpass that of 2024, with the MADANI Rahmah Sales increased at least three times in each of the 36 state constituencies in Kedah this year.

Muhammad Nizam expressed KPDN Kedah’s appreciation to all parties involved in ensuring the success of the MADANI Rahmah Sales. This initiative aims to reduce the cost of living while increasing the income of wholesale and retail traders in the state.

Meanwhile, KPDN Kedah handled six out of 92 complaints from Jan 1 to 25, involving the districts of Kota Setar, Sungai Petani, and Langkawi, with cases of price and controlled goods violation. Three cases were recorded in Alor Setar under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, two cases in Sungai Petani involved price and controlled goods under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and Control of Supplies Act 1961, and one case in Langkawi involved controlled goods.