AS a single mother of three living on only the RM1,500 she earns as a cleaner and part-time cake seller, Norasniza Baen knows the meaning of frugality.

The 36-year-old has to be very careful with expenses, epecially when she has to fend for three school-going children in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

So, when Barisan Nasional’s Batu division organised a mini morning market selling fish, chicken, vegetables and other groceries at cheaper prices at a flat near her house in Sentul, Norasniza seized the opportunity.

“Every single sen counts. If I can get discounts of 20 sen, 50 sen or RM4 on the groceries, especially when it comes to raw items and basic necessities, such as sugar, flour, rice, chicken and fish, it is great,” she said.

At the morning market, chicken was sold at RM6.99 per kg, cheaper by RM1.50 from the standard price at normal markets. Fish was sold between RM5 and RM10 compared with RM15-RM16 per kg.

Cooking oil was also cheaper by 40 sen; it was the same with eggs. As for rice, it was sold at RM22 for a 10kg packet, cheaper by RM4 compared with a packet at a provision store.

Chicken was the hot item of the day – 400 slaughtered birds sold out like hot cakes. By 11am, only 10 chickens were left.

“Yes, they were snapped up right away when people found out about the price,” said the supplier, who declined to be named.

Besides Norasniza, her neighbour, Salbiah Ahmad Musman, 54, spent about RM150 buying groceries at the mini market, saying there was no way she could have bought as many things at a normal shop for the same amount of money.

“I saved about 40% buying things here,” she said.

Both women agreed that such programmes should have been organised earlier and not just when the general election is near.

“Whether they want to fish for votes, I do not know as I am already a BN supporter. Whatever it is, I hope that things like this can be held often to help city folk struggling to care for their families,” said Salbiah.

Both live in squatter areas in Kampung Chubadak Tambahan, Sentul, in the Batu parliamentary constituency.

Batu, one of the federal constituencies in the Federal Territory, had been a BN stronghold but was snatched away by PKR in 2008. PKR candidate Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, won the seat with a 9,455-vote majority in the 2008 general election. He retained the seat in 2013 with a bigger majority of 13,284 votes.

Housewife Malar Ramasamy said such programmes showed that only the government was able to organise efforts to benefit the people.

“I think there is a chance of BN winning back Batu. PKR held the seat but the MP (Tian Chua) was not able to do much. They cannot even patch up roads. I saw Tian Chua once when we asked him for help solve the water issue at my flat,” said the 56-year-old.

Aminudin Mohd Sali said whether or not there was any political agenda behind the programme made no difference to him.

“I am here to buy things because it is cheap. Election or not, it will not affect my vote,” the 43-year-old said.

Today is the second day of BN’s mini morning market programme. It will be held every weekend from 8am to 11am. – January 21, 2018.