Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government has allocated RM30 million for the Agro-Madani sales programme nationwide in 2026, said Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Chan Foong Hin.
He said the Ministry is targeting 5,000 events nationwide, including 400 in Sabah, with a total sales value of RM5 million.
“These programmes will be carried out throughout Sabah, covering all state constituencies,” he said during the launch of the first programme at Pasar Tani Asia City, here.
The programme featured three activities - a campaign to increase the consumption of local fruits and vegetables; the distribution of 100 schoolbags to the children of B40 traders operating at Pasar Tani Asia City under a back-to-school programme for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency; and the Agro-Madani sales programme.
He also launched the RM5 Happy Hour food packs.
Chan said the initiative aims to help ease the cost-of-living burden faced by families.
He explained that the programme differs from the Rahmah sales organised by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), which focuses more on dry goods and processed items.
“Agro-Madani sales, on the other hand, focus on fresh produce, directly from the market,” he said.
Chan noted that this year is rather special as Chinese New Year will be celebrated on Feb 17, and by the third day of the festivities, the fasting month of Ramadan will begin.
“Therefore, I would like to encourage everyone, especially the Chinese community, not to consume only mandarin oranges imported from China, but to eat more local fruits,” he said.
“Locally grown fruits such as pineapples also symbolise prosperity, while red-coloured dragon fruit reflects the Chinese belief that red represents good fortune and prosperity.
“It is very popular trend now and even viral, symbolising a year full of prosperity.
“Therefore, we should be able to celebrate Chinese New Year with local fruits, not just mandarin oranges alone,” he added.
Chan said he would lead by example and personally look into distributing various types of local fruits as gifts.
“This year, I will replace mandarin oranges with local fruits,” he said.
Also present were Fama Director-General Abdul Rashid Bahri and Fama Sabah Director Sebastian Chew.
