BATU CAVES: The Rahmah initiative will soon be expanded to include insurance packages, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.

He said his ministry had had discussions with an insurance company, which agreed to provide Rahmah Insurance Packages.

"We are finalising the packages in terms of its regulations.

"Once we get the approval from Bank Negara and the Finance Ministry, we will introduce the packages.

"We will also conduct an engagement session with another insurance company next week."

Salahuddin earlier launched the Jualan Rahmah Hari Raya Bersama Sabella, an initiative to provide discounted Hari Raya clothes.

He said Sabella, a company specialising in modest fashion, would provide 700,000 pairs of clothing starting at RM8 and discounts of up to 71 per cent.

These include ready-to-wear baju kurung, blouses and hijab.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin said his ministry would conduct an impact research on Menu Rahmah to study its sustainability.

"It has been three months since Menu Rahmah was launched.

"We will conduct an impact study and present the report to the prime minister, who is also finance minister."

He denied claims that Menu Rahmah was just a "political facade" as the prices of goods continued to increase.

"We shouldn't make these kind of statements.

"Payung Rahmah is an approach that we take when an item's price cannot be reduced due to many factors, including supply, weather or international factors.

"Whoever said this should get his facts straight. We can explain this to you.

"The problem with the rising cost of living cannot be resolved simply by hoping for the prices of items to go down."

He said the Rahmah sales included nearly 12,000 items, including daily necessities.

He said this in response to Federal Territories Muda chief Shah Fariq Aizal Shah Ghazni, who yesterday claimed that Menu Rahmah was a short-term solution to overcome the economic crisis and increasing food prices.

He said Menu Rahmah was a "political facade" to cover up the truth behind the actual cost of food.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/892735/rahmah-insurance-packages-be-launched-soon-says-salahuddin