TEMERLOH: At least 50 household products with famous brands will be sold at the newly-launched Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) 2.0, but at lower prices, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

A review after the closure of the previous version of KR1M last year found that consumers were still more interested in buying “branded” goods, he said,

“Thus, KR1M 2.0 will not be selling off-brand products. For a start, KR1M 2.0 will offer four essential goods at low prices,” he said after launching the new initiative at TMG Mall here yesterday.

“There are at least 50 other stock keeping unit products that are being sold at competitive prices. For example, 1kg of Milo is sold at RM17.80 compared to the normal price of RM17.99,” he said.

The four essential items are sugar, cooking oil, flour and rice.

Najib said 1kg of sugar would be sold at RM2.85 compared to the normal price of RM2.95, 1kg of flour at RM1.30 compared to RM1.35 and 10kg of Bunga Raya 5% SST rice at RM24.90 compared to RM26.

However, cooking oil will be maintained at RM2.50 per kg due to the item being subsidised.

Another difference with KR1M 2.0, the Prime Minister added, was that it would no longer operate in specialised outlets.

“Instead, it will be located within the premises of KR1M 2.0 partners. There are already 51 KR1M 2.0 operating at present and more will be opened until there are 3,000 outlets nationwide within three years.

“KR1M 2.0 does not only benefit consumers but also participants of the scheme since they will get more customers,” he said.

Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNS) has been appointed to spearhead KR1M 2.0 by collaborating with strategic partners in implementing the new initiative.

Tunas Manja Group and KK Super Mart are two retailers that PNS has started working with.

Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said discussions were being held to add another anchor retailer while smaller business owners would be appointed as associates.

He said more stock keeping unit products would be added from time to time.

“These are not the off-brand products from before. These are actual branded products sold cheaper under the scheme,” he said.

Asked on how the ministry would convince entrepreneurs to participate in the scheme when it came to the profitability aspect, Hamzah said the advantage of KR1M 2.0 was that it would attract more customers who are drawn to the lower prices.