BALIK PULAU: Housewives have a new reason to be tech-savvy – to buy poultry, fish and vegetables with a click of the mouse. They can soon do their marketing online on a website that’s being set up for them by the Balik Pulau Village Initiative Co-operative Bhd. Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad said the co-operative hoped the website would be up and running in two months.
He said people could order the produce online and pick up their shopping at stalls set up in designated areas.
“The co-operative is currently selling these items, which are especially popular with students, in front of the Universiti Sains Malaysia’s mosque from 4pm to 6.30pm from Tuesdays to Fridays.
“Once the website is up, we hope to capture the market of those staying in apartments and flats around Balik Pulau before venturing to other areas in the state,” said Muhamad Farid, who is also the co-operative’s executive adviser, after launching the Blog Bash ’09 forum yesterday.
Asked what was the purpose of getting people to buy the essential items online when they could go to the nearest market, he said there were many people who had no time to go to the market.
“We are helping vegetable and livestock farmers and fishermen in Balik Pulau as well, as the co-operative purchases the items from them direct and sells to the public.
“There will be no extra charge, and the items will be sold according to the market price. We want to make things convenient in this Information, Communications and Technology era,” he added.
Muhamad Farid also said the forum was a good initiative to educate people in rural areas on ICT.
The event was organised by the Balik Pulau Social Entrepreneurs Club with the support of the Balik Pulau Rural Internet Centre (under the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry).
The programme themed “Community Media for Local Socio-Economic Development” was held to acculturate the local community with entrepreneurship skills and ICT knowledge in order to generate more progressive entrepreneurs.
SOURCE: The Star - Manjit Kaur, "Balik Pulau’s online marketing bid"
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