The Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Association has questioned the government's decision to engage hypermarkets for a project involving sundry shops under the Economic Transformation Programme.

Addressing reporters today, its president Lean Hing Chuan said funds allocated for the sundry shop transformation programme (Tukar) should instead be disbursed through the federation.

"Why should we go through Tesco, Carrefour and Mydin to get a loan to refurbish sundry shops?

"The federation has years of experience modernising sundry markets in the rural areas and it should be the organisation through which the loans are distributed.

"We have a credible repayment record, so that should not be a problem," Lean said.

sundry shops kedai runcit everyday goods 250907 cooking oil Announced in January, the Tukar programme involves collaboration between the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, hypermarket companies Tesco, Carrefour and Mydin and small retailers or sundry shops.

Sundry shops that have been identified will be given a government loan of between RM20,000 and RM60,000, while the hypermarket companies will provide consulting services to the shops.

The goal is to modernise the shops for greater efficiency, customer satisfaction and revenue.

However, when contacted, Mydin managing director Ameer Ali Mydin said the loans are not disbursed by the hypermarkets.

"These loans do not go through us. They go through the (ministry) and Bank Rakyat. You have been misinformed," he said.