Kelantan: The government has allocated over RM3.3 million to implement the Essential Goods Distribution Programme in areas around Pos Brooke and Kuala Betis for three years starting this year. Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Azman Ismail said the programme was aimed at ensuring consumers in rural communities obtain basic goods at prices that are aligned with prices in urban areas.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme, spanning this year to 2027, focuses on six main goods -- white rice, white sugar, wheat flour, cooking oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and RON95 petrol. 'The programme is expected to give great benefits to over 9,000 rural residents in Pos Brooke and Kuala Betis, and at the same time reduce the gap in the price of basic goods between urban and rural areas," Azman told reporters after the programme at Pos Brooke today.

Azman stated that the government will also bear the full costs of transportation for the six types of goods that are the basic needs of the people through the programme. "Transportation services are carried out by an appointed transporter company responsible for bringing goods from the point of source to the sales centre in the rural areas," he explained.

Azman further noted that "the estimated contract cost for the implementation of this programme for the three years is over RM1,185,409 in Kuala Betis and over RM2,187,840 in Pos Brooke," adding that the KPDN would continue to be committed to ensuring the people's well-being through the implementation of this programme.