By Malaysiakini
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said that the authenticity of all IT products sold at the newly opened Mara Digital will be vetted and guaranteed by a bumiputera-owned company appointed to manage its tenants.
Speaking to reporters after a walkabout at the IT mall in Kuala Lumpur, Ismail Sabri said that the company, WGN Innovation Frontiers, has been appointed as the main supplier for products sold at Mara Digital.
“There are two kinds of products sold here but both must go through WGN in order to guarantee its authenticity.
“Even if the tenants can source their product directly from the principal company, for example in China, the items must still be vetted by WGN,” he said.
Aside from ensuring the supply of products sold at Mara Digital, Ismail Sabri also announced that Mara officers and officers from the Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism Ministry will be running a customer service centre.
The centre, Ismail Sabri said, was set up to address complaints that there was a lack of after-sale services there.
“There is no issue of fake products being sold here. Customers should also not be worried about after sale services,” he said.
Daily monitoring
WGN general manager Wan Mohd Zaffique Zin, meanwhile, said that daily checks are conducted on all of the products it supplies to the 36 tenants at Mara Digital.
“We get our products directly from the principal suppliers like Asus, Acer, Lenovo and others. We will distribute to the tenants. This will ensure that all products are original and not reconstructed or refurbished,” he explained.
In terms of warranty, Wan Mohd Zaffique said consumers have the option of returning any product to the retailer or directly to its counter at Mara Digital.
“Normally consumers will deal with the person they bought the product from. But the retailer will also return the product to us and we will contact the principal supplier,” he said.
WGN Innovation Frontiers, registered WGN Scan Sdn Bhd, is a distributor of electronic products in southeast Asia, its website states.
It also claims it has also developed a wireless scanner mouse and has a online retail store selling digital products.
According to the Bloomberg Business database, its chairperson, retired army general Wan Mohamad Zin Mat Amin, has more than 20 years experience in defence-related supplies, property development, automotive parts manufacturing and IT services.
Outlets nationwide
Ismail Sabri also announced that Mara is looking to replicate the single supplier model as part of its Mara Digital nationwide expansion plan, beginning with its second outlet targeted to open in Anggrek Mall, Shah Alam by June.
“The exact model that we will use is currently being discussed because it will take a lot of capital to open outlets across the country.
“There could be an anchor tenant who will act as the (main) supplier,” he said, adding that the third Mara Digital outlet will be most likely be located in Damansara.
In choosing the locations, Ismail Sabri said priority will be given to upgrade or relocate existing Mara offices nationwide and diversify its current businesses.
On concerns over competition from existing establishments, Ismail Sabri said it could potentially provide a win-win scenario for both consumers and retailers.
“I feel that healthy competition would be good for consumers because retailers will compete to give the best service at the cheapest price.
“At the same time, retailers will also strive to improve their businesses,” he said.
Mara Digital was officially launched on Dec 8 to supposedly counter what Ismail Sabri had previously described as alleged attempts by non-bumiputera to dominate the sale of IT products and gadgets.
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