Several nasi kandar joints in George Town have announced that they will not be increasing their prices despite the rising costs of key ingredients such as brinjal and red chillies.
Owner Ajmer Ali of Nasi Kandar Beratur stated that the prices of their dishes will remain the same in order to avoid burdening the customers with additional expenses. This is in light of the high living costs nowadays.
The prices of certain vegetables have reportedly increased by more than 50% due to the low harvest caused by the monsoon season. Red chillies, previously priced between RM8 and RM10 per kilogram, are now selling from RM15 to RM17, while brinjal has seen a hike from RM3 to RM4 to RM8 to RM10 per kilogram.
Cucumber is also more costly, currently at RM10 per kilogram compared to RM6 to RM8 several weeks ago. Liga Maju Nasi Dalca Ayam Negro Restaurant manager Fairus Khan Sirujudeen stated that they will not be increasing their prices despite the rising costs as most of their customers are from the working class.
Famous Hameediyah Restaurant director Muhammad Riyaaz Syed Ibrahim also assured that they will not be raising their prices as it would not be fair to their customers.
Vegetable farmer and seller Mohd Shahid Sapian reported slow sales despite the upcoming festive and holiday season and mentioned that some vegetable prices have gone up by 50% in the past few weeks.
Another vegetable seller, Louis Law from Cameron Highland, noted that sales were down due to rain, which affected the production yield by about 40% to 50%. The Federation of Vegetables Sellers Associations’ president Lee Kha Shiuann predicted that vegetable prices would be lower after the monsoon ends and the production of vegetables increases.
Meanwhile, Sunshine Whole Mart Sdn Bhd marketing and communication manager Bryan Wong confirmed that there is no change in sales of eggs and chicken at its supermarket chains. Chicken trader Mohd Nasir Abdul Kalam expressed hope that there won’t be a sudden price increase in the future as his supply is currently adequate.
