GUA MUSANG (Kelantan), A young Orang Asli couple braved a 50-km journey on a logging road today to buy ‘Rahmah’ goods, bringing along with them their nine-month-old infant as well.
Asri Aris, 21, a plantation worker, and his wife Alisa Along, 23, of the Temiar community, rode on a motorcycle from Pos Balar to the Rahmah Sales event in Kuala Betis, taking six hours for the ride up and down.
Alisa said they did not want to miss buying foodstuff at a cheaper price at the event and left their home at 8 am.
“We heard about the Rahmah Sales (in Kuala Betis) two days ago. My husband took leave from work today. We wanted to buy daily essentials, including rice, vegetables, and other foodstuff.
“We were able to save some money today because we received a two-kg container of cooking oil for free. It was worth making the six-hour journey up and down,” she told reporters at Dewan Ayahanda in Kuala Betis.
Another customer, Along Ngah Jasin, 50, said he and his wife Sila Jelma Angah, 43, spent almost RM200 to buy four 10-kg bags of rice, eggs, chicken, and sugar.
Meanwhile, Galas State Assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the Rahmah Sales government initiative helped the people buy goods at reasonable prices.
He said this was the third such event at an Orang Asli settlement this year.
"Rahmah Sales have been held 18 times in the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
“The government provided a subsidy of RM240,000 for sales of up to RM1.8 million in the constituency. This subsidy from the government for the rural people is huge, and I believe the programme is a good initiative where the shop comes to the people,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency