MYDIN hypermarkets are offering discounts on some 50 items to encourage food sellers to continue participating in the government’s Menu Rahmah initiative.

Mydin is the largest homegrown halal hypermarket chain in Malaysia.

Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Ameer Ali Mydin told The Malaysian Insight the aim is make it cheaper for restaurants to offer Menu Rahmah..

“Many have said it is hard to sustain their business as prices have gone up, but prices of chicken were much higher before. We also offer good prices for vegetables and rice,” he said.

“The government has come up with the Rahmah menu discount card because the smaller traders are complaining that they cannot manage the cost. Hence, some of the bigger players like us, Mydin, have come up with discounts for key items. So, if the traders have a Rahmah Menu discount card, we will not only give them wholesale prices but special prices, which are cheaper than the wholesale prices,” Ameer said.

Ameer, who is the Bumiputera Retailers Association president, said 50 items are being sold at special prices.

“These include cooking oil, curry powder, sugar… This was initiated by the government, but we have come up with a list of items that can be had for less than the wholesale price. This would incentivise (food sellers) to at least have one Menu Rahmah,” he said, adding that the special rates are available at all 68 Mydin branches nationwide.

In January 2023, domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub introduced the menu for restaurants to offer meals at a recommended price of RM5. There was a mixed response to the programme.

Over the past months, the sellers’ enthusiasm for the Menu Rahmah has faded as prices of ingredients rise.

Mydin offers the affordable Menu Rahmah at all its 28 hypermarkets, seven days a week.

Ameer said the menu has had a good reception.

“I believe there are people who need a good meal at RM5.”

Ameer said restaurants and smaller traders should take advantage of the government’s Menu Rahmah discount card.

“For example, if a trader gets one carton of sugar RM2 cheaper than the wholesale price, he still benefits because he can use the sugar… for drinks that ate not on the Menu Rahmah. 

“All they have to do is apply for a Menu Rahmah discount card online. Once they have the card, Mydin will give them a wholesale card (that makes them) a Rahmah card holder. So our system will give the card holders a lower price than the wholesale price, ” he said.

Recently, Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh asked restaurants to offer at least one Menu Rahmah item.

Since the launch of the Menu Rahmah discount card in November 2023, Fuziah said 117 food sellers, 64 of them in Kelantan, have enrolled on the programme.

She said 2,237 restaurants and food stalls have registered on the Menu Rahmah portal to provide balanced and nutritious meals at below RM5.

Selangor has the most number of eateries offering the affordable meal at 336, followed by Pahang (274), Sarawak (233), Perak (208), Penang (186), Johor (159), Sabah (144), Kelantan (139), Terengganu (121), Kedah (115), Negri Sembilan (110), Kuala Lumpur (60), Malacca (48), Perlis (38), Putrajaya (38) and Labuan (28). – June 18, 2024.