The National Students’ Consultative Council (NSCC) today requested the government set up Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) and provide Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia on campuses nationwide.

The NSCC made the request today during its meeting in Putrajaya this afternoon, Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin told reporters.

"We welcome this request, and conincidentally the Domestic Trade Consumerism and Cooperatives Minister (Ismail Saabri Yaakob) was present and he will look into how this can be realised," he said.

Khaled said the KR1M and Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia programmes were meant to help cushion the rising cost of living and this should also apply to undergraduates.

"(This) is to help the rakyat to overcome the high cost of living, so why universities should be excluded from these benefits?"

The meeting today was an bi-annual meeting today between the NSCC delegates and members of the federal cabinet.

To consider air-time request

Khaled added that the undergraduate had also raised a number of issues in the meeting, including having a platform to voice their views in the media, particularly on television.

"We will consider what they have raised," said Khaled.

The request for the KR1M outlets to be set up in varsities comes at a time when the government-backed thrift grocery chain is having its products scrutinised by the Pakatan Rakyat.

Led by Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua, the Pakatan Rakyat MPs claim that some tests showed that the products do not fulfil legal requirements.

They also claims that some of the products are not as cheap as claimed.

An NGO Malaysian Association of Standards Users have also made claims of non-compliance, but Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, the operator of the chain has denied most of the allegations.

However, Mydin has since held back sales of its oyster sauce and growing up milk formula following the revelations.