Two Mara digital malls close due to poor sales

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 17 Oct 2019 7:22PM · 12 Comments

Former rural development minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob learns today that only the Mara Digital Mall in Kuala Lumpur is operational, with others nationwide closing due to poor sales. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 17, 2019.

MARA digital malls in two states have closed due to low sales, the Ministry of Rural Development said today.

The ministry, in a written response posted on the Parliament website, said that the slow-moving sales, coupled with disproportionate operating costs, proved unpopular with tenants.

“Mara Digital Kuantan ceased operations in December 2018 and Mara Digital Johor Baru in February 2019,” it said in response to Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) who wished to know the status of Mara digital malls nationwide.

He also sought clarification on whether Mara intended to open more branches in other states as previously planned.

The ministry said the Mara Digital Mall in Kuala Lumpur was still operating with 11 lots and 16 kiosks, involving 11 entrepreneurs, with annual sales of RM4.67 million as of this August, while the mall in Shah Alam closed in March 2018 to give way to the Shah Alam Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) upgrade.

According to the statement, UTC Shah Alam was re-opened on August 15, 2018, but the mall was not re-opened with ICT-related businesses run using only kiosks.

The ministry added that Mara would conduct detailed feasibility studies before opening new branches in the future. – Bernama, October 17, 2019.

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Comments

  • Telor penyu, shame on you! Treated a mobile phone thief as pahlawan bangsa and spent hundreds of millions tax payers money for nothing!

    Posted 4 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

    • Betul Chee Yee Ng. Buat Malu Melayu. Aku malas nak cakap. Hujah berkobar-kobar. Maruah Melayu konon .

      Posted 4 years ago by No Gostan · Reply

  • That pic says...I AM THE STUPID ONE

    Posted 4 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • Refund our Tax Money used by U.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Zero business IQ Sabri, return the tax payer money. Why don't Sabri now use his own money to help the Malays? Even the Chinese with limited business sense dare not enter business, u think so easy!

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • In our town, town council builds food centres and market places. These amenities are reserved for bumiputeras only to carry out their business. Sadly, every one of them faces the same fate like Mara Mall. The results of having such preferential treatment does not only deprive other from doing business, it also fails to provide the opportunity for bumiputeras to learn from others the way others conduct their business. There are practically no chance for the B40 class and below bumiputeras to compete and through competition upgrade themselves.

    In my opinion, building community walls by the government is absolutely stupid because it benefits no one but hurts everyone badly.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Soon the country will also close down.
    Imbeciles like this twat hogging prominence

    Posted 4 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • Soon the country will also close down.
    Imbeciles like this twat hogging prominence

    Posted 4 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • it must be the fault of non bumi...btw, the photo should be the mid finger to yourself

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Aiyoh! Like that where got dignity?

    Posted 4 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • We all knew this would happen when Sabri proposed this initiative. We gave them 2-3 years and true enough they had to fold up. A lot of things go into being a good businessman so training is essential and good business sense need to be inculcated. Dont just plong them there and hope they will succeed.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Don't you know before you could run learn how to walk first. Start small and learn from your mistakes to improve. You are doing just the opposite by competing with your competitors where you expect your customers to run to you. What happened? All ran away and you have to close shop. Learn only hard work pays.

    Posted 4 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply