Mara to open digital malls in Melaka, Johor
KUANTAN: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) will open two digital malls in Melaka and Johor by early next year, bringing the number of outlets in the country to six.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said they would be located at the Rural Transformation Centre Sungai Rambai in Melaka and Larkin in Johor.
“The ministry is identifying more suitable locations in every state capital,” he said after launching Mara’s fourth digital mall at Plaza Gambut here yesterday.
Ismail said Mara hoped to open at least one digital mall in every state capital before expanding to every district in the country.
“Mara arcades usually promote rural and traditional products. Certain sections can be used to sell and repair digital products. This new concept can make Mara arcades more vibrant.”
Mara’s first three digital malls are at Menara Mara in Kuala Lumpur, Anggerik Mall in Shah Alam and Bazaar Medan Jaya in Ipoh.
He said there were plans to convert Anggerik Mall into an Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), following the drop in the number of visitors to the premises.
“The mall is not easily accessible from the main road. If the mall is converted into a UTC, we expect the number of visitors to increase. The digital mall will enjoy brisk business.”
His ministry, Ismail said, would work with all state governments and agencies to locate locations for digital malls.
“However, they must be prepared to offer tenants free rental for six months.”
He said 109 Bumiputera entrepreneurs were operating at four Mara digital malls.
He said that number was expected to grow with the opening of the two new malls.
“The setting up of new Mara digital malls is due to the huge potential of the information and communications technology market. It is also a move to groom more Bumiputera ICT entrepreneurs.”
Ismail assured the public that Mara digital malls sold only genuine ICT products.
He said a committee, comprising representatives from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, would regularly examine the gadgets sold by traders at the malls to ensure they were authentic.