MADANI Mart, the government-aligned community retail initiative launched last Friday, operates entirely on a licensing model in collaboration with private entrepreneurs and does not rely on government funding, according to Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Fuziah Salleh.
Speaking during a press conference following a walkabout at a supermarket in Johor Bharu, Fuziah clarified that the project is managed by Yayasan Madani, the brand owner, which oversees the ecosystem including training, pricing, systems, and retail analysis supported by artificial intelligence.
“Yayasan Madani, which is aligned with the government, does not receive government funding and does not provide capital for Madani Mart. Each outlet is privately owned,” she said, addressing questions about comparisons between Madani Mart and the former Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the opening of the first Madani Mart outlet in Indera Mahkota, near Kuantan, Pahang, as part of a broader effort to make daily necessities more affordable under the slogan “Kedai Runcit Harga Rahmah.”
Fuziah explained that the initiative offers a strategic approach to tackling rising living costs without requiring government capital, instead leveraging collaboration between the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), private operators, licensed entrepreneurs, and Yayasan Madani.
“The model provides entrepreneurs with flexibility to manage their businesses while receiving supply chain and operational support from Yayasan Madani,” she added, emphasising that the initiative also opens opportunities for local communities to actively participate in business ownership and operations.
The launch of Madani Mart reflects a targeted effort to support both affordability for consumers and economic opportunities for small-scale operators, combining private entrepreneurship with government-aligned oversight. - April 5, 2026
