RETAILERS MUST STOCK MORE LOCAL GOODS: MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-1998
RETAILERS MUST STOCK MORE LOCAL GOODS: MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL

BUTTERWORTH, Dec 14 Asia Pulse - Retailers can assist the
government in controlling the outflow of funds by reducing the
number of imported items and increasing the volume of
Made-in-Malaysia products to be sold at their stores, Pulau
Pinang Trade and Consumers Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr
Sak Cheng Lum said.

He said that by encouraging consumers to buy more locally
made products, retailers were enhancing the productivity of
the local manufacturing sector, especially small and medium
industries and cottage enterprises.

The government had provided the steps and it's now up to
the private sector and Malaysians to help the economy to
recover from the current turmoil, he said at the opening of
the Carrefour hypermarket in Seberang Jaya.

"With each and every Malaysian putting in his/her
commitment and contributing towards the national (economic
recovery) efforts, we will succeed," he said.

He added that the economic downturn had changed the
spending habits of consumers, with people being wiser and more
careful in their purchases now.

Hypermarkets endeavour to maintain a high standard of
living for consumers by providing quality goods and services
at lower prices.

As they deal directly with manufacturers, it eliminates the
need for middlemen and commissions, resulting in lower prices,
he said.

"In other words, hypermarkets allow the general populace to
maintain a good standard of living without compromising on the
luxury or preferences they had enjoyed during the period of
high economic growth," he said.

Earlier, Carrefour Malaysia chairman Datuk Haji Ishak
Ismail said more than 95 per cent of the products sold at
Carrefour were made locally.

"One method of maintaining reasonable prices is by dealing
directly with manufafturers and dispensing with the middlemen.
In this way, not only are we able to save on our operating
costs, we are also able to maintain the quality and freshness
of our products," he said.

The RM100-million (US$26.38 million) Carrefour Seberang
Jaya outlet provides shopping convenience with an "everything
under one roof" concept.

(BERNAMA)

KEYWORD: $all $my $ret $eco $tda

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