The MADANI Mart initiative is setting its sights on nationwide expansion, with plans to establish at least one outlet in every state constituency as part of a broader effort to improve access to affordable essential goods.
Yayasan Madani operations manager for MADANI Mart, Lutfi Mohd Ariffin, said the rollout would be carried out in stages, guided by supply chain readiness and operational capacity to ensure controlled, sustainable and resilient growth.
He emphasised that the initiative adopts a fundamentally different model from previous government-linked retail programmes.
“MADANI Mart does not use the same model as KR1M (Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia), and it is not fair to project the failure of past initiatives onto this new approach.
“Each outlet is individually owned and operated, driven by the commitment and investment of the operators themselves without relying on government funding or any single company,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Despite typically operating on a modest scale of two shop lots, Lutfi said each outlet benefits from the advantages of a larger retail network through a structured support ecosystem developed by Yayasan Madani.
“Yayasan Madani acts as an ecosystem builder and incubator, enabling the achievement of economies of scale through coordinated supply chains, centralised support systems and structured operational frameworks,” he said.
He added that the initiative has been designed with input from industry professionals, including experts in retail ecosystems and supply chain management, to strengthen its operational foundation.
To support expansion, six distribution centres will be established nationwide, each serving clusters of outlets based on geographic zones.
“Each distribution centre plays a role in building purchasing volume, optimising logistics efficiency and ensuring price stability,” he said.
Lutfi also highlighted ongoing collaboration with the government through programmes such as Jualan Rahmah, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures.
He said these partnerships are intended to broaden public access to essential goods at more affordable prices while reinforcing national welfare efforts.
The expansion of MADANI Mart outlets will continue progressively, with the goal of extending the initiative’s benefits to a wider segment of the population across the country. - April 22, 2026
