The allocation of RM386 million to open 57 of 1Malaysia People’s Shops (KR1M) in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will not only cover the cost to build the shops, but also the overall cost for the initiative, including the cost of delivery and distribution of products.

NONE “It has also taken into consideration the price uniformity programme between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak,” Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (left) said in response to the opposition’s allegation that the cost to open KR1M in the three states was too costly.

The allegation came from DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was reported as saying that the average allocation of RM6.7 million to build one KR1M in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan was 15 times higher compared to the cost to build one similar shop in the peninsula, that is about RM470,000.

NONE However, Ismail Sabri said the government only allocated RM87 million to build the 57 shops in the three states, with each costing between RM1 million and RM1.5 million.

“The opposition must first understand the issue before making wild allegation. If we divide RM87 million to 57 KR1M, each shop will only get slightly over RM1 million, not RM6.7 million,” he said.

Earlier, Ismail Sabri launched the Automotive Workshop Modernisation Project (ATOM) at Chai Kien Motorcycles Sdn Bhd in Klang yesterday.

In his speech, he said 105 automotive workshops nationwide had benefited from the ATOM project which aimed at transforming car and motorcycle workshops to have a better systematic, efficient and clean service.

- Bernama