THE Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) confirmed today that one of the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) outlets in Miri has shut down for economic reasons.

KPDNKK Miri branch chief, Joe Azmi Jamil said the KR1M in Tudan was closed down as the operator suffered losses competing with supermarkets and hypermalls in the city.

“Right now, only one KR1M, in Pujut, Miri City is still in operation,” he told Bernama in Miri today.

Joe Azmi, however, admitted that the sole operator of KR1M in Miri City was facing similar problems but the situation was still under control.

He expects the situation to be back to normal once the new operator of KR1M takes over the operation.

The KR1M operation in Sarawak in April last year was accused of abuse that had led to a shortage in the supply of items sold in the   retail outlets.

The allegations resulted in a surprise visit from the ministry’s Deputy Minister Henry Sum Agong at the Miri KR1M after which he denied there was abuse as the supplies were adequate.

Last month, the minister, Hamzah Zainuddin announced that the government would be launching KR1M 2.0 soon to help reduce the cost of living with new operators taking over the daily running of KR1M.

KR1M is the brainchild of Prime Minister Najib Razak in June 2011, aimed at reducing the people’s burden from the rising cost of living and to assist local small and medium enterprises. – Bernama, September 20, 2017.