The ministry, in a written response posted on the Parliament website here, said that the slow-moving sales, coupled with disproportionate operating costs, caused tenants to cease operating at the premises.

“The Mara digital mall in Kuantan ceased operations in December 2018 and the one in Johor Bahru in February this year,” it said in response to Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera), who wished to know the status of these ventures at Medan Mara in Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Kuantan, and Johor Bahru.

He also sought clarification on whether Mara intended to open more branches in other states as previously planned.

The ministry said the Mara Digital Mall in Kuala Lumpur was still operating with 11 lots and 16 kiosks, involving 11 entrepreneurs with annual sales totalling RM4.67 million, as of this August.

The one in Shah Alam ceased operating in March 2018 to give way to upgrading works on the Shah Alam Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).

UTC Shah Alam was re-opened on Aug 15, 2018. However, the Mara digital mall there was discontinued, with ICT-related businesses run using only kiosks.

The ministry added that Mara would conduct detailed feasibility studies before opening new branches in future.