A Healthy Rival of Hypermarket
I would like to express my reaction and dissent about the possibility of the government imposing restrictions on the establishment of a new hypermarket (Utusan Malaysia 4 April 2002) after the Selangor State Government issued a recent hypocrisy permit freezing order. These directives are perceived as necessary to avoid unhealthy competition amongst the supermarket traders who are ultimately detrimental to consumers (as has been argued by certain groups in the petitioning competition of petrol stations to promote a petroleum sales sometime in the past).
The directive also aims to prevent negative impacts and losses on small traders as a result of losing customers and businesses to the hypermarket.
From the perspective of a bumiputera, I feel something is wrong with the instructions and arguments. Over the past 30 years, hundreds of supermarkets and their branches have been established throughout the country. There is Parkson Grand, The Store, Hankyu Jaya and many other supermarket names. Why do not the hypermarkets do not claim to sue small traders? Why is it that a hypermarket can now hurt another supermarket business?
The Bumiputeras in general and the Malays are particularly reminded thousands of times by all levels of leaders to emulate Chinese craftsmen and craftsmen in business. Even with their associations and business networks, the entire retail and wholesale business is dominated by one race.
How many traders or Malaysians have been hit by their businesses until the Cabinet and the state government have to intervene?
I have many reasons to support the establishment of a growing hypermarket. Major hypermarkets (such as Macro, Carrefour, Tesco) provide a wide range of job opportunities to bumiputeras compared to the existing local supermarkets.
I never read a supermarket hypocrisy ad that says applicants who are fluent in Chinese are being given attention. In fact, recently Tesco's recruitment advertisement says that bumiputeras are encouraged to apply as an overview of their open attitude to bumiputera workers.
Hypermarkets have so far provided opportunities for bumiputera suppliers to supply and market their products and produce without prejudice. Carrefour as reported by a local newspaper recently marketed nearly 40 percent of its goods from bumiputera suppliers. What about the 30-year-old local supermarket dealing with the people of this country?
The hypermarkets in the country have a positive attitude in appreciating the Malay language as the official language. Apart from English as a universal language, Malay is used well in advertising and price tags. They are not acting! In providing convenience and convenience to bumiputera buyers, the hypermarket complex has a prayer room facility (such as Carrefour), isolated halal and illegal counters brightly and clearly and label their goods and sale prices brightly. Hypermarkets have so far been unmanageable in providing facilities for consumers such as adequate shopping carts, free parking and comfortable, neat and clean business spaces without raising prices for goods sold. The hypermarkets present a customer-friendly attitude that should be emulated by local supermarket masters as well as other local traders.
Carrefour, for example, promises to its customers that any goods purchased and if found to be damaged or unsatisfactory can be returned and will be replaced with similar items or refunded without any questions as to respect the customer's rights. How many times have you ever quarreled with local traders when trying to complain about newly purchased items but found to be broken and unusable! How difficult the government is to formulate a new law to protect the consumer and not enough therefore to have a special tribunal to deal with consumer complaints due to irresponsible entrepreneurial attitude. The hypermarkets have innovative sales schemes such as attractive, attractive, color-coded catalogs that are provided free of charge or posted to consumers and provide non-burdensome buying schemes such as credit facilities introduced at Carrefour or Courts Mammoth. In my opinion, community leaders should look at certain phenomena in business that challenge their traditional beliefs that certain business monopoly groups can not be deflected due to their intelligence and immunity. Why our leaders do not negotiate with Carrefour, Macro or Tesco proprietors to get their cooperation to help bumiputera suppliers and traders and then collaborate to produce successful Malay businessmen and managers or bumiputera.
Carrefour, for example, promises to its customers that any goods purchased and if found to be damaged or unsatisfactory can be returned and will be replaced with similar items or refunded without any questions as to respect the customer's rights. How many times have you ever quarreled with local traders when trying to complain about newly purchased items but found to be broken and unusable! How difficult the government is to formulate a new law to protect the consumer and not enough therefore to have a special tribunal to deal with consumer complaints due to irresponsible entrepreneurial attitude. The hypermarkets have innovative sales schemes such as attractive, attractive, color-coded catalogs that are provided free of charge or posted to consumers and provide non-burdensome buying schemes such as credit facilities introduced at Carrefour or Courts Mammoth. In my opinion, community leaders should look at certain phenomena in business that challenge their traditional beliefs that certain business monopoly groups can not be deflected due to their intelligence and immunity. Why our leaders do not negotiate with Carrefour, Macro or Tesco proprietors to get their cooperation to help bumiputera suppliers and traders and then collaborate to produce successful Malay businessmen and managers or bumiputera.
Is the decision to freeze the hypermarkets as the decision of the state executive council or the Cabinet's decision which has been carefully discussed? Or is it urgent for certain parties?
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