HYPERMARKETS in Malaysia

[rizalhakim]

Mixed views on 10pm closure for hypermarts
By JADE CHAN and TAN KARR WEI


THE local councils have been told to ensure hypermarkets do not operate beyond 10pm but this directive is not going down well with some of the affected parties.

It was reported yesterday in an English daily that the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had sent out letters to local councils to do this.

While certain organisations are supportive of the call, others said it would pose problems and inconvenience for consumers.

“All Giant stores operate from 10am to 10pm daily as stipulated by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

“We comply strictly to the business hours imposed by the ministry,” said a spokesman from GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd, a unit of the Dairy Farm Group which operates Giant hypermarkets.

A representative from Carrefour Malaysia declined to comment on the issue while a spokesman from Tesco Malaysia could not be contacted at press time.

“We agree with the regulation because it will help sundry shops survive,” said Fomca chief executive officer Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman.

Kota Damansara resident Kamariah Sharifuddin, 29, said she preferred to shop at night because she finish work after 8pm on most days.

“Having the hypermarkets open after 10pm is convenient for working people.

“It is also easier to get a parking space at night,” she said.

[rizalhakim]

Tesco to open two new outlets
By CHRISTINA KOH


THIS week, Ipoh folk can expect to start shopping at the newest Tesco store once it opens at Station 18 in Pengkalan.

Tesco Malaysia chief operating officer David Hobbs said another Tesco store was expected to begin operations later this month in Seberang Jaya in Penang.

He said both stores were awaiting approval from the local council before opening their doors for business.

“The challenge is always to get the certificate of fitness,” he told reporters after the official launch of Tesco’s newest store in Kampar, Perak.

The outlet in Kampar is the 23rd Tesco store in Malaysia and the third to be built in Perak.

Hobbs said what made the Kampar store special was that it would be a hypermarket with an active community centre.

He said the centre would host cooking classes, line dancing, health checks and activities for children such as taekwondo and art classes.

For coming festivals, Kampar residents can look forward to drawing contests, Hari Raya card-making sessions, a ketupat weaving competition, a Deepavali kolam decoration contest and henna art.

“We feel that the store can play a huge part for the community other than just being a hypermarket.

“It can also be a place where the community can come together and engage in fun and interesting activities,” said Hobbs.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon, who launched the outlet, praised Tesco’s initiative in implementing many environment-friendly measures.

Among them was to reduce carbon emissions, saving on electricity and water, recycling programmes and reusing shopping bag incentive.

Noriah said that the Government had recently proposed that under Budget 2009 tax deductions be extended to companies which contributed to projects to preserve the environment and improve the livelihood of the poor.

Today, more and more corporate bodies are exercising their social responsibility and hopefully those who have not yet played their role would follow Tesco’s footsteps, she said.

[rizalhakim]

Carrefour

[rizalhakim]

[rizalhakim]

[nazrey]

Mydin to spend RM1b on new hypermarkets
By Roziana Hamsawi Published: 2008/09/18
BujsinessTimes



LOCAL hypermarket operator Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd will invest close to RM1 billion to open eight new hypermarkets in Malaysia in the next two years.

Owner and managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said each store will cost the group some RM120 million. Four stores will be opened next year and the remaining stores in 2010.

Mydin currently has 42 outlets, comprising 24 emporiums, two hypermarkets, nine mini markets, five 24-hour convenient stores and two superstores.

"With our expansion, opportunities are aplenty for more and more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their products through our stores," said Ameer.

Last year, Mydin spent RM60 million buying various goods and products from a total of 500 Bumiputera SMEs, and this year the value is expected to increase by about 20 per cent.

Ameer was speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC) on halal training programme to be provided by HDC to Mydin's local vendors or SMEs.

Signing on behalf of HDC was its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin. The signing was witnessed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi.

Under the programme, HDC, in the first year, will train 300 trainees from Mydin's own SMEs in the Klang Valley and the subsequent years will see the training being expanded to other states.

"We want to help local SME entrepreneurs to equip themselves with the right knowledge and confidence in managing and producing their halal-based products," said Ameer, adding that this will strengthen and boost the capacity of local SMEs in the local and global halal industry.

The halal training programmes will provide the SMEs with the right skills to become competitive halal players and comprise three modules namely halal awareness, halal industry and halal professional.

Jamil said such programmes are part of HDC's efforts to turn Malaysia into the preferred global halal support and reference centre.

"It will also boost Mydin's position as a leading provider of halal products that are wholesome and safe for consumption and usage, thereby ensuring that their customers receive the highest standards in quality and safety," he said.

[rizalhakim]

Mydin To Invest RM1 Bln For Eight Hypermarkets To Help SMEs


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Wholesaler, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd plans to open up another eight hypermarkets by 2010 with an investment of about RM1 billion and the aim of helping local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Its managing director, Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said that the company, through its emporium and hypermarkets last year, had helped sell the products of some 500 Bumiputera SMEs worth some RM60 million.

"We expect the amount would increase by about 20 percent this year," he told reporters at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Mydin and the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) here Wednesday.

The potential locations for its outlets would be in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan; Kuantan, Pahang; Kampung Manjoi, Ipoh; Malacca as well as Sabah and Sarawak, said Ameer Ali.

Mydin, a home-grown company, was established 51 years ago in Kota Bharu, Kelantan by its founder Mydin Mohamed.

Today, Mydin owns 24 emporiums, two hypermarkets, nine mini-markets (MyMydin), five 24-hour convenient store (MyMart) and two super-stores Mydin Bazaar.

On the MoU, Ameer Ali said it was aimed at strengthening the participation and the capacity of local SMEs in the local and global Halal industry, via HDC’s Halal Training program.

"As a local company, owned and managed by Muslims, it is part of our fardhu kifayah (social obligation) to help local SME entrepreneurs to equip themselves with the right knowledge and confidence in managing and producing their Halal-based products," he said.

Under the MoU, HDC would train at least 300 trainees from Mydin's own SMEs who will receive certification upon completion of the Halal Training programme.

Throughout the duration of the agreement, HDC would provide expert trainers as well as training materials and aids for the trainees.

HDC currently offers three modules in its training programme which are the Halal Awareness, Halal Industry and Halal Professionals modules.

Meanwhile, HDC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said the agency has given Halal certification to 517 local companies after taking over the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM)'s role in the issuance of Halal certification two months ago. "The average process period before the issuance of the Halal certification is about 30 days," he said.

Also present at Wednesday's event were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, HDC chairman Tan Sri Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim and Mydin chairman Mydin Mohamed.

-- BERNAMA

[rizalhakim]

Streets Mail: Give go-ahead to Carrefour
V. THOMAS, Sungai Buloh


The controversial site where the hypermarket is coming up.

THE Selangor state government should allow the construction of the Carrefour hypermarket in Section II of Kota Damansara to proceed, especially after so much work has been done, as the many advantages far outweigh the inconvenience to the residents.

It need to be known at the outset that the hypermarket is solely for the benefit of Kota Damansara residents as there are other supermarkets in Damansara Perdana along the LDP Highway catering for other areas. These supermarkets cater for a wider clientele as they are along the main roads unlike the proposed one in Kota Damansara, which is mainly for the local residents.

Kota Damansara has tens of thousands of flat and apartment dwellers belonging to the lower-income group. At a time when the pay packet has shrunk and travelling costs have gone up dramatically, what better than a hypermarket in their midst where they can buy their provisions at lower cost as compared to shops which sell things about 50 per cent to 80 per cent more than in the supermarkets?

If at all the residents had wanted to protest against the hypermarket they should have done this during the previous state administration when the project signboard was put up. The MBPJ had already given the green light for the hypermarket and so had the previous state assemblyman, Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan.


To call off the project when a few million ringgit had been sunk is not a wise resolution of the problem. If the project is called off, what is going to be done with such a large parcel of land? Possibly a few condos or a large commercial centre will be put up instead. Will the problems cited by the residents be resolved by this or will it be equally damaging or worse?

Having a school near a supermarket is nothing new in Malaysia and the problem in this case has been magnified. There is a secondary school next to a supermarket, The Store, in Bandar Baru Sg Buloh and this has not led to any problems for students such as truancy or loitering. There are even more examples nationwide.

Primary school children are too young to be distracted by supermarkets or hypermarkets or engage in anti-social problems like truancy or loitering after school hours.

One also needs to consider that there has been a building boom in Kota Damansara since it was developed in the 1990s. All kinds of building are being put up without any thought for future space constraints.

Attempts should be made by the residents and the authorities to reduce the concrete jungle and make Kota Damansara more green and livable. When the residential population is up there are certain amenities that become inevitable and a supermarket is one of them.

It must be noted by the residents that once a hypermarket comes up there will be less need for rows and rows of shops and commercial centres. This will reduce pressure on open spaces and the municipal authority can reduce approvals for commercial properties.

[rizalhakim]

Cawangan ke-25 Tesco
Oleh Rosdalilah Zahari
am@hmetro.com.my

TESCO Stores (M) Sdn Bhd (Tesco) melebarkan operasi di Malaysia menerusi pembukaan cawangan pasar raya besar Tesco Station 18 di Pengkalan, Perak, semalam menjadikan cawangan ke-4 di negeri itu.

Tesco sebelum ini sudah memulakan operasinya di Ipoh, Taiping dan cawangan ketiga di Kampar, Perak pula dibuka minggu lalu.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Tesco Malaysia, Chris Bush berkata, Tesco Station 18 adalah cawangan ke-25 dibina di Malaysia yang sentiasa memenuhi keperluan penduduk setempat khususnya menawarkan barangan segar pada harga terendah.

“Pembukaan Tesco Station 18 menjanjikan jualan produk yang bermutu tinggi yang ditawarkan dengan harga berpatutan untuk semua golongan pengguna,” katanya dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di Ipoh, Perak, semalam.

Bush berkata, Tesco cawangan itu turut membuka lot gerai iaitu ‘Bazaar Rakyat’ yang menawarkan pelbagai jenis barangan untuk pilihan pengguna yang berkunjung.


“Selain itu, terdapat pelbagai pilihan barangan dan tempat makan yang ditawarkan di kiosk serta deretan kedai yang berada dalam kawasan pasar raya besar ini serta 1,000 petak letak kereta secara percuma turut disediakan.

“Kami juga prihatin dengan pelanggan yang terdiri daripada orang kurang upaya (OKU) dan ibu bapa yang mempunyai bayi dengan menyediakan petak tempat letak kereta khas untuk mereka,” katanya.

Beliau memberitahu, ibu bapa yang ingin membeli-belah di pasar raya kami juga boleh meninggalkan anak mereka di kawasan taman permainan mini yang disediakan.

Katanya, sempena perayaan Aidilfitri, Tesco seluruh Malaysia giat menjalankan promosi untuk pelanggan setia.

Sementara itu, katanya rangkaian pasar raya besar Tesco seluruh negara setakat ini sudah mengambil 9,000 pekerja dan turut menawarkan lebih 3,000 produk menggunakan jenama Tesco terdiri daripada barang makanan sehingga ke barangan keperluan harian.

[rizalhakim]

Giant contribution to NST club


(From left) Osman Lisut and Shahiman Sharip receiving goods from Zamri Maulan and Faridah Harith, representatives from Giant Hypermarkets.

PETALING JAYA: It was a Giant boost again for the welfare, sports, and recreation club of the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

Giant Hypermarket recently donated RM8,000 worth of grocery to the club.

Shahiman Sharip, president of the club, said: "For the third consecutive year, Giant has contributed to our club, We appreciate their help."

Shahiman said with the contribution from Giant, 66 pots of "bubur lambuk" will be made and distributed to orphanages in the Klang Valley.


He said the club with the participation of local artists and chefs makes the porridge every Saturday during Ramadan for distribution to welfare homes .

About 20 pots of porridge will be prepared during each event and 5,000 packs of porridge distributed every Saturday during the fasting month..

Zamri Maulan, corporate communication manager of Giant Hypermarkets, said: "We are donating our Giant retail brand goods and we hope to extend our share to society."

[rizalhakim]

Hypermarket impasse
Halim Said

SHAH ALAM: Residents of Kota Damansara Section 11 and a hypermarket failed to strike a deal in their latest round of negotiation.

Carrefour will go ahead with plans to build a hypermarket on a 2.5 hectare plot next to a primary school though the residents are against it.

Carrefour Malaysia-Singapore managing director Shafie Shamsuddin said the hypermarket group had acquired the land legally.

"We got approval from the authorities prior to the objections from the residents.


"On the issue of relocation, we hope the federal government and state government will look into the licence that we have obtained," he said,

Shafie was speaking at the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) meeting at the Selangor state secretariat in Shah Alam last week.

He said relocating the proposed hypermarket to other sites would not benefit Kota Damansara residents.

"Several locations have been suggested to us and among them is one in Petaling Jaya near the Nanyang Siang Pau building," he said.

Shafie said Carrefour, being the first hypermarket to penetrate the Malaysia market in 1994, should be given the opportunity to develop and generate economic opportunities in areas where it is built, and in this case, the Kota Damansara area.

"As a foreign investor, Carrefour is quite surprised with the strong objections from the residents. We feel that we are a victim as much as the residents felt concerning the hypermarket development.

"Nonetheless we have come up with amicable solutions and worked with the goverment to settle the issue," he said.

However, Shafie stressed that Carrefour has come to a strong standing that it will proceed with the project in in Kota Damansara.

The 90-minute meeting was attended by representatives of Carrefour, Kota Damansara Section 11 residents, Kota Damansara state assemblyman Dr. Mohd Nasir Hashim and Subang MP R. Sivarasa.

There was tension at the meeting with one group of residents, who were for the hypermarket to be in their area against another group objecting to it.

Nasir took state executive councillor Ronnie Liu to task for his lack of focus and for taking sides in handling the dispute.

Liu scoffed at Nasir's criticism and said he had to sit down with all the relevant parties and listen to their proposals fairly.

"I'm quite shocked to hear this. I am trying to find a working solution to this problem but it turned out to be more than I could chew on.

"That is why I have to bring the matter to state level as I do not have the power to decide on this issue," Liu said.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim pledged that the state government will look into the hypermarket issue, including the solutions given by Carrefour and the objections by the residents.

Khalid said the matter will be discussed at an economic council meeting next week.

"We have to get a collective decision on this issue and we need time to do it. Right now time is of the essence and you will all need to be patient as I am fasting," he quipped.

[Zulhelmi]

Latest news from Alor Star... There's a new billboard ad near Teluk Wanjah Roundabout telling us that there will be a new second store of Tesco which will be part of a new township called Stargate, near Alor Star SELATAN Exit.

The funny thing the newly open Tesco Mergong is like 10 minutes away from the construction site of the new one.

[ethan]

Originally Posted by Zulhelmi

Latest news from Alor Star... There's a new billboard ad near Teluk Wanjah Roundabout telling us that there will be a new second store of Tesco which will be part of a new township called Stargate, near Alor Star SELATAN Exit.

The funny thing the newly open Tesco Mergong is like 10 minutes away from the construction site of the new one.

Wow...really...crazy what!!
Buildla near Giant!!!

[Zulhelmi]

Bleh, I dont want anymore Tesco, Giant or Carrefour.

It's time that we have upscale department stores like Metrojaya, Parkson or Jusco.

[The Usual Suspect]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

Streets Mail: Give go-ahead to Carrefour
V. THOMAS, Sungai Buloh




It need to be known at the outset that the hypermarket is solely for the benefit of Kota Damansara residents as there are other supermarkets in Damansara Perdana along the LDP Highway catering for other areas. These supermarkets cater for a wider clientele as they are along the main roads unlike the proposed one in Kota Damansara, which is mainly for the local residents.

I didnt know Damansara Perdana had supermarkets that could cater to Kota Damansara residents

(I think he really meant to say Mutiara Damansara, which is another address by another developer altogether)

[rizalhakim]

Tesco to pay RM525,000 in land premium to state govt


THE state government has ordered Tesco Xtra to pay RM525,000 in land premium for building an alternative road on state land in Taman Sembilang in Seberang Jaya, Butterworth.

State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the imposition of the premium was part of the land procedures on anyone planning to use state land for development or other purposes.

He said apart from the land premium, the hypermarket had also been asked to build 200 parking lots to replace the parking lots near the Seberang Jaya expo site that had been taken up for the project.

“The company has three months to pay up the premium or the approval which has been given to them to build the access road will expire.

“They will have to re-submit new application for approval if they fail to meet the deadline,” he told reporters after launching a Hari Raya balik kampung road safety campaign at the Penang bridge toll plaza.

Lim said the state had approved the construction of the alternative road during last Monday’s state executive council meeting, adding that the alternative road would be given 30 years’ leasehold.

He said the state government was giving 50% discount on the land premium for the project as it was meant for the benefit of the people.

“We believe that the premium is reasonable. In fact, the hypermarket management did not submit any application to build the road. That was the reason why a stop work order was issued on the project,” he added.

Lim said the project consultant was immediately asked to submit the necessary applications to the Central Seberang Prai Land Office which they did.

“The State Land Committee approved the application last week and we endorsed it at the state executive council meeting on Monday,” he said.

The project became controversial when residents in Taman Sembilang claimed that it was stopped by the state government.

They said the residential area would become congested when the hypermarket was open for business this Friday as there was only one road to enter and exit Taman Sembilang.

The alternative road will divert traffic through the expo site parking lots to the Projek Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan (Plus) Highway near the Subaidah restaurant.

[rizalhakim]

Bas percuma ke Carrefour



CARREFOUR Malaysia buat pertama kalinya melancarkan servis terbaru sempena musim perayaan dengan menyediakan perkhidmatan bas percuma ke pasar raya besarnya.

Perkhidmatan bas percuma itu dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama SuriaFM, membabitkan lima pasar raya besar Carrefour, iaitu Wangsa Maju, Cheras, Klang, Penang Prai dan Johor Bharu.

Bas percuma itu beroperasi setiap Khamis hingga Jumaat dari jam 11 pagi hingga 7 petang serta Sabtu dan Ahad mulai jam 8 pagi hingga 7 petang, berlangsung sehingga penghujung Ramadan bagi membantu pelanggan membuat pembelian dan persiapan menjelang hari raya.

Carrefour sentiasa mencari peluang memberi yang terbaik kepada pelanggan dan melalui khidmat bas percuma ini, memudahkan pelanggan membeli-belah di pasar raya besar Carrefour.

[rizalhakim]

Gedung kedua terbesar Tesco Extra



KEKUKUHAN pasaran di Malaysia menyakinkan Tesco Stores (M) Sdn Bhd (Tesco) mengembangkan perniagaan dengan membuka sebuah lagi pasar raya besar Tesco Extra di Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang, semalam.

Ia pasar raya Tesco Extra kedua terbesar di negara ini selepas Plentong, Johor, menjadikannya premis kelapan dibuka selepas pengambilalihan daripada Makro Cash & Carry (Makro).

Ketua Pegawai Operasinya, David Hobbs, berkata Tesco Extra terbaru ini direka bentuk dengan konsep memenuhi keperluan pelanggan sama ada peniaga mahupun keluarga atau individu di bawah satu bumbung yang memasarkan pelbagai barangan, termasuk 2,000 produk industri kecil dan sederhana (IKS).

“Pembukaan Tesco Extra ini pasti menggembirakan peniaga kecil kerana mereka boleh membeli produk secara pukal pada harga istimewa dan individu juga boleh berbuat demikian.

“Tesco Extra akan terus komited dan sentiasa memberi nilai terbaik untuk pelanggan walaupun negara sedang dilanda inflasi pada masa kini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media sempena pembukaan Tesco Extra di Seberang Jaya itu. Hadir sama, Pengarah Peruncitan, Bill O`Neill dan Pengurus Besar pasar raya besar itu, N Segar.

Tesco Extra Seberang Jaya mempunyai 15,000 meter persegi ruang niaga yang dibina semula daripada bangunan asal membabitkan kos RM100 juta.

David berkata, pasar raya besar berkenaan bakal menjadi pilihan membeli-belah di Seberang Prai kerana mempunyai banyak produk dan khidmat menarik kepada pelanggan.

Menurutnya, pihaknya turut menyediakan ruang permainan kanak-kanak, lebih 200 gerai di medan selera dan restoran serta pelbagai kelainan kios dikenali Bazar Rakyat.

Katanya, antara kelebihan Tesco Extra termasuk saiz pek barangan lebih besar, lebih banyak kaunter, 1,250 ruang letak kereta termasuk empat untuk orang kurang upaya (OKU) dan 24 untuk ibu bapa dan bayi.

[rizalhakim]

Tesco opens in Seberang Jaya


TESCO Stores (M) Sdn Bhd has soft-laun-ched its eighth Tesco Extra store in Sebe-rang Jaya upon receiving approval from the authorities to construct a RM3.6mil slip road.

Seberang Prai Municipal Council president Farizan Darus said the Public Works Depart-ment (PWD) recently gave its consent for the stretch to be built between the RM100mil hypermarket in Persiaran Sembilang and the North-South Expressway.

“Tesco Stores has been allowed to resume construction work on the road on the side near the hypermarket for the time being.

“It can only connect the road to the expressway in mid-October as PLUS Expressways Bhd feared that it may affect traffic flow on the highway, especially during the Hari Raya holidays,” he said on Thursday.

Farizan said the Penang Land Committee had last Friday approved an application by Tesco Stores to use a 1,173 sq m plot of state land (presently used as a car parking lot within the Seberang Jaya expo site) to build an alternative road.

He said the state executive council, which met on Monday, had endorsed the company’s application by requesting it to pay RM525,000 in land premium for building the alternative road on state land.

Farizan added that the company was also told to rebuild 200 parking lots within the vicinity to re-place the ex-po’s parking lots.

At a separate event later, Tesco Malaysia chief operating officer David Hobbs said the new store was the last of eight former Makro Cash & Carry stores that the company had taken over and redesigned since last year.

“Tesco Extra Seberang Jaya, with 15,000 sq m of mall space, is so far the biggest among our 26 stores in the country. There are also 125 mall tenants occupying the food court, bazaar and those in pushcarts here,” he told a press conference at the hypermarket.

[rizalhakim]

pCarrefour road trip to spread Ramadan cheer
Rizalman Hammim
THE month of Ramadan is a time of giving and sharing.


READY TO GO: Carrefour Batu Pahat human resources manager Shamsul Anhar Baharuddin (fifth from left) presenting contributions to Senggarang assemblyman Jaafar Hashim to be distributed in his constituency.

HERE COME THE GOODIES: Senggarang state assemblyman Jaafar Hashim presenting contributions to one of the poor families on his turf.
Hence, a lot of individuals and corporations are taking advantage of this special month to organise charity events and make contributions to the poor and needy.

One such corporation is Carrefour, which recently organised a charity convoy to contribute food and other supplies to 24 underprivileged families in four areas in Batu Pahat -- Parit Raja, Rengit, Senggarang and Semerah.

Six families from each area, consisting of the disabled, poor and single mothers, were identified with the help of the Batu Pahat welfare office.


Led by Carrefour Batu Pahat human resource manager Shamsul Anhar Baharuddin and store manager N. Arumugam, the 14-vehicle convoy began its journey from the Carrefour hypermarket in Taman Flora.

Tagging along to help give away the contributions were Rengit state assemblyman Ayub Jamil and Senggarang state assemblyman Jaafar Hashim.

"The programme is part of Carrefour's efforts to help the less fortunate living around the areas where we operate.

"We hope the contributions will help them during the fasting month, as well as the upcoming Hari Raya," said Shamsul Anhar.

It was the first time Carrefour had organised such an event and the hypermarket plans to make it an annual event.

"This is also part of our corporate social responsibility programme involving our staff."

Jaafar commended the event as it would help lessen the burden of poor families, especially in their preparations for Hari Raya.

"I hope more corporations will follow in Carrefour's footsteps and make their own contributions to help the poor and unfortunate," said Jaafar.

Ayub hoped that for next year, Carrefour would identify more eligible families to receive the contributions.

"Such activities are very important to create a more caring society in Malaysia.

"I hope Carrefour will continue its efforts in helping the needy," said Ayub.

Among the recipients of the contribution was single mother Yah Md Som.

"I am thankful to Carrefour for their generosity.

"This contribution is a big help for me and my family and will definitely help make this Hari Raya a little more joyful," said Yah.

Besides hampers of food items and other daily necessities, each family also received a cash contribution.