KINABATANGAN: More than 500 kilogrammes (kg) of fresh fish, including selar and selayang, offered for free by the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM), were snapped up within a short time at the Sentuhan Agro Madani @ Kinabatangan programme, Thursday.
The initiative drew an overwhelming response from local residents, many of whom were surprised when the free fish distribution was announced by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu during his inspection of the LKIM booth after officiating the programme.
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The Kinabatangan Farmers’ Organisation Authority booth is also a crowd puller, with 200 packs of the Madani Combo - containing basic necessities such as wheat flour, sugar, salt, cooking oil, shallots and dried noodles - priced at RM5 each, selling out quickly during the “Happy Hour” segment.
Housewife Hamidah Baharuddin, 50, from Kampung Sungai Rotan, expressed her gratitude, saying she had not expected the free fish distribution, as she had earlier purchased 6kg of fish at a promotional price of RM5.
“When I found out about the free offer, I did not miss the opportunity to queue. Fish prices here are high, so initiatives like this really help us save on daily expenses,” she said at the programme.
Hamidah said she had allocated RM200 to purchase other basic necessities, including rice and wet goods such as chicken, sufficient for about two weeks, at the sales programme.
Another resident, Noraini Sijari, 47, from Kampung Nusa Jaya, said the Madani Combo food pack - the first initiative of its kind in Kinabatangan - had provided much-needed relief to housewives like herself.
She described the programme as an effective measure to help ease the rising cost of living and said she did not miss the opportunity to purchase three packs, as the price was cheaper and offered better value compared to prevailing market prices.
She said the food packs were not only economical but also sufficient to meet her family’s kitchen needs for one to two weeks, helping to better manage expenses, especially for households without a fixed income.
“I hope programmes like this can be expanded as an initiative to assist the low-income group,” she said.
Held at the open square in Kota Kinabatangan town, the programme reflects the Government’s more inclusive approach of listening to public needs and taking action in line with the core Madani values, which emphasise the well-being of the people.
