IPOH, March 8 (Bernama) -- A total of 173 eateries in Perak have participated in the Menu Rahmah initiative thus far, since it was launched on Jan 31, said state Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, Consumer Affairs and Chinese New Village Committee chairman, Woo Kah Leong.

Woo said that this is an official figure, but he is confident the actual number is higher, as there are traders who introduce the Menu Rahmah who are not registered with the state Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN).

“I saw (traders introducing Menu Rahmah but not registered) with my own eyes in Teluk Intan, Taiping and Ipoh. I think 173 (premises or eateries) is the official info, but I think it's more than 200,” he said, after launching Aeon Co (M) Bhd Raya Rahmah today.

Also present was state KPDN director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail.

Woo also said that he found the Menu Rahmah in Perak to be of good quality and suitable for all walks of life.

Meanwhile, Kamalludin said that the state KPDN has not received any complaints from traders or customers regarding the quality or quantity of the Menu Rahmah introduced thus far.

“Hence, I ask that if anyone feels that the Menu Rahmah offered is lacking in terms of quality, as well as those who appeared to have taken advantage of it, please alert the KPDN so that we can look at it,” he said.

In January, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub launched the Menu Rahmah initiative, with 15,000 eateries participating, as part of the effort to help reduce the cost of living for the people, especially the low-income group.

In the meantime, Kamalludin said that the state KPDN is planning to set up a Ramadan Rahmah Bazaar in Ipoh, in collaboration with the Ipoh City Council (MBI), which is currently in the process of identifying an area for the initiative.

Salahuddin previously stated that the KPDN is identifying suitable and potential locations to be used as Ramadan Rahmah bazaars nationwide.

-- BERNAMA