KUALA LUMPUR — An aide to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended the Madani Mart initiative, noting that it does not use public funds unlike the previous Najib-era Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) model.
Political Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, said Madani Mart uses a different approach than the loss-making and now-defunct KR1M, as the current initiative is implemented through collaboration between Yayasan Madani and private parties interested in the retail business.
Unlike the KR1M method – where items like rice, sugar, and milk were rebranded under the KR1M label – the current initiative maintains existing market brands, Bernama reported Kamil saying.
Entrepreneurs interested in running a Madani Mart business must fork out their own capital, unlike KR1m where start-up costs for each outlet had used public funds.
Yayasan Madani is to provide technical assistance and operational coordination to ensure uniform implementation of Madani Mart, Kamil added.
Kamil said the government remains open to feedback and suggestions to ensure these facilities truly benefit the public, particularly low-income groups.
His statement comes following criticism of the initiative which debuted with its first outlet in Kuantan, Pahang, earlier this month.
Critics have included MCA Youth and former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli over concerns of conflict of interest and transparency.
This is because Yayasan Madani is chaired by Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Fuziah Salleh, whose government portfolio is responsible for ensuring affordable prices of basic goods and essential items. Additionally, other leading figures in Yayasan Madani are Anwar’s aides in his dual role as prime minister and finance minister.
Another big critic of Madani Mart has been Mydin supermarket chain owner and managing director Datuk Amir Ali Mydin, who told BFM 89.9 radio recently that the government’s plan to open one outlet in each state constituency was a political decision rather than a business decision.
Amir had lost millions through the KR1M initiative which was operated by a subsidiary of his Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd ,after set-up costs were borne by taxpayers.
Yayasan Madani operations manager Lutfi Mohd Ariffin was reported saying recently that KRIM’s failure hould not be projected onto Madani Mart.
He said the current initiative is built on retail and supply chain expertise, and outlets are individually owned and operation without reliance on government funding.
Neither does Madani Mart rely on any single corporate entity to finance its capital or operating expenditures, he added.
It is also collaborating with other government initiatives such as Jualan Rahmah, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) to improve access to affordably-prices essential goods.
According to Lutfi, Madani Mart aims to open at least 640 outlets nationwide, with stocks supplied by six distribution centres. – April 25, 2026