RM20 E-WALLET INCENTIVE BENEFITS OVER 159,000 USERS NATIONWIDE AT RAHMAH RAMADAN BAZAARS

TAWAU, March 21 (Bernama) -- The Retail Sector Digitalisation Initiative (ReDI) introduced at this year's Rahmah Ramadan bazaars has received an encouraging response, with 159,720 users nationwide benefitting from the RM20 e-wallet incentive so far.

Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Dr. Fuziah Salleh said that the cashless incentive helps ease the Ramadan expenses for families while also encouraging the use of cashless payments at the Rahmah Ramadan bazaar.

"This cashless initiative has received a very good response because we see that 159,000 visitors to the Rahmah Ramadan bazaars have benefitted from ReDI and this represents a large number. The number of beneficiaries is expected to increase by the end of Ramadan," she told reporters after visiting the Rahmah Ramadan Bazaar at Sabindo Plaza here today.

She said that the provision of e-wallets is one of the ministry's efforts to empower the Rahmah Ramadan bazaar, which includes the RM5 Rahmah menu and the implementation of the anti-food waste initiative MySaveFood.

Meanwhile, it was said that there are 95 Rahmah Ramadan bazaars involving 2,063 traders offering Rahmah menus nationwide, including 13 bazaars involving 122 traders in Sabah.

Regarding the implementation of MySaveFood, she said that a total of 57,991 kilogrammes of food were successfully saved at the Rahmah Ramadan bazaars within the 20 days of their operation nationwide.

"Our party is striving to tackle food waste by rescuing surplus food to be distributed to those in need, and among the collaborations are with Gerakan Pengguna Siswa in Tawau, as well as volunteers from three educational institutions, namely Institut Pendidikan Guru Tawau, Kolej Komuniti Tawau and Polyteknik Tawau.

"So they take turns working at this Rahmah Ramadan bazaar, saving food and drinks, weighing them, and bringing them back to their colleges. Until last night, they managed to save 400 kg of food at the Rahmah Ramadan bazaar here," she also said.

Meanwhile, Fuziah added that as of today, Ops Pantau conducted 51,266 inspections nationwide, involving 274 cases and 1,128 recorded complaints, in addition to 262 compounds worth RM59,500 issued by Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living enforcement officers.

-- BERNAMA