GE14 an opportunity for people to earn extra income





ALOR SETAR, April 29 (Bernama) -- For some people, the current election season is also a time to generate a side or additional income, especially through poster printing business.

Bernama check here found that there are a number of printing companies in the state that have been making optimal use of election season, which comes only once every five years, by introducing innovative campaign materials, such as banners and posters, for the contesting parties and candidates.

Fuad Osman, owner of Fuad Trading Industry Sdn Bhd, said in conjunction with the 14th General Election (GE14), his printing company had introduced posters printed on an A2-sized plastic-based material.

"Plastic posters have become a preferred campaign material in the GE14 as they are more durable, weather-resistant and easy to manage," he told Bernama.

He said he had also received a lot of orders for the plastic poster from Barisan Nasional candidates contesting in the state, including Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum (Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat), Datuk Mohd Tajudin Abdullah (Belantek state seat), Datuk Othman Aziz (Jerlun parliamentary seat).

On average, each candidate would place orders for 50 rolls of poster which is priced at RM1.70 each, Fuad said adding that each roll has 1,000 pieces of poster.

He said all orders would be produced at his printing factory in Sungai Siput, Perak before being sent to his company branches in several states for distribution.

"Our factory, which has three printing machines, manages to produce 52,000 pieces of poster a day," he said adding that his company now has 22 employees.

Besides posters, Fuad said his company also produced coffee packets, customised water bottle label, as well as magnetic badges with logo of political parties and picture of candidates contesting in the GE14 printed on them.

For Teoh Boon Kok, besides posters, he also received orders for election campaign leaflets from candidates for GE14.

"The use of paper-based poster for campaigning is rarely seen nowadays as it is difficult to clean," he said adding that orders for campaign materials would normally increase after the nomination day.

The campaigning period, which set for 11 days, began yesterday until polling day on May 9.

-- BERNAMA