'Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat' will be expanded - Zahid





REMBAU, March 13 (Bernama) -- The 'Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat' programme will be expanded and frequently held in every parliamentary constituency, in the interest of the people, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Cost of Living Committee chairman, said the programme was established due to the government's concerns over the rising prices of goods.

"I will inform the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, so that the 'Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat' programme can be expanded and held frequently in the interest of the people.

"That's what we do because we are concerned about the increase in prices of goods that has nothing to do with the producers or growers but caused by the middlemen," he said.

He said this in his speech at the Leader-Meets-People event at Taman Satria, Paroi, near here today.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin, Kuala Pilah Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Hasan Malek and state executive councillors and elected representatives.

Earlier, Mohamad in his speech suggested that 'Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat' should be improved in every parliamentary constituency as it was very popular among the people.

Meanwhile, during the event attended by 6,000 locals, Ahmad Zahid also announced a RM4.9 million allocation for five infrastructure restoration projects in the Rembau parliamentary constituency.

Among the projects that have been approved was an RM800,000 allocation for the construction of Multipurpose Mini Hall at Taman Satria and another provision of RM100,000 for repair works of the collapsed slopes at Kampung Sentosa Jaya.

"For the proposed construction of a new primary school in Bandar Seri Sendayan, costing RM30 million, I will ask the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan for the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to list it as priority.

"Other proposals such as the construction of an alternative route from Taman Tuanku Jaafar to Jalan Seremban-Tampin and the upgrading works of the drainage systems at Taman Marida, Taman Satria and Taman Seri Pagi will also be included in the priority lists under the EPU," he said.

-- BERNAMA