STREETFOOD hawkers are still doing good business despite more restaurants introducing Putrajaya’s RM5 Menu Rahmah across the nation.

They said regular customers are keeping them afloat but warned that soaring prices could end affordable Menu Rahmah meals in the future. 

Kuala Lumpur Bumiputera Traders and Hawkers Association vice-president Muhamad Baba Kutty said its members were not affected by the Menu Rahmah initiative.

“Our members’ business has not dropped much. However, we believe that this campaign will not last long because food products and goods are still expensive.

“The big restaurants can do it. The government’s intention is good, but whether it is practical or not, we don’t know,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Last week, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Salahuddin Ayub said a total of 1,531 businesses have registered to be part of the Menu Rahmah initiative nationwide.

Menu Rahmah is the government’s initiative to help reduce the cost of living, especially for those in need of nutritionally balanced meals, at a price of RM5 and below.

Baba said, however, only large eateries have the capacity to serve Menu Rahmah.

He said this was because stalls and small traders cannot afford to serve budget dishes with their regular earnings.

“They (restaurants) can buy in bulk, get lower prices and they have storage for it. Stalls are not in the same category.

“Stall proprietors have to pay workers, electricity and rent, and overheads are high. They are also not making big money like the restaurants.

“Stalls can also offer Menu Rahmah if the government provides subsidies for food products,” he said.

The trade group has more than 4,000 members, of which 90% are in the food business.

Stall operators, meanwhile, said restaurants that offer Menu Rahmah have not become their competitors, largely due to their locations and their own set of customers.

Owner of D Lereng, a mixed rice stall in Taman Tugu in the capital, Nik Rashidi, said his business was not affected by the Menu Rahmah offerings.

“We are located in a strategic place where we are surrounded by government offices.

“So most of our customers are from around the area. Business is as usual here as we can get about 50 customers for lunch alone,” he said.

He said a meal of rice, fish or chicken and vegetables costs about RM8 at his stall.

“Our customers will also not go and look for Menu Rahmah because it is for the needy,” he said.

S. Ganesan, owner of Selvam Corner in Brickfields, said business is largely unaffected by the Menu Rahmah initiave as the area is well known for its Indian fare.

“We have our regulars from all over. But it is the customers’ choice where they want to eat.”

He charges RM8.50 for meal of rice, vegetables and chicken curry. Mutton goes for RM10, while fried chicken costs between RM10 and RM12, depending on its size.

Ganesan acknowledges that his stall is unable to serve Menu Rahmah meals because their buying capacity is low.

“We cannot get discounts on food products like the big restaurants because they buy in bulk.

“We buy about five chickens. Some other stalls buy two birds. We are not getting any discount, so we can’t bring down our prices. Uncut chicken costs RM9, while cut chicken costs RM12.”

Customers want variety

Proprietor of Moksu stall at Taman Botani in Kuala Lumpur, Wan Emeeza Azma, said that they have been around for more than 20 years in the area, so business has not suffered.

“We don’t feel the effect of Menu Rahmah meals. Many people know our shop and they enjoy coming here for our mixed rice.

“As we are at Taman Botani, we also get a customers from the neighbourhood. Our price range for a meal is between RM8 and RM10.

“But, we are very famous for our pisang goreng (banana fritters).”

Emeeza also said that it was not feasible for her to offer Menu Rahmah meals because the cost of raw ingredients is high.

Another stall owner in Taman Botani, Asmadi Ahmad, said that there was no difference in sales as he still manages to sell about 100 plates of chicken rice a day.

“People want a variety of food, so they come here.

“And people also don’t tend to go far to look for Menu Rahmah meals as most eat near their homes or workplace.

“If the government can bring down the prices of food products, then we don’t need Menu Rahmah,” he said. – March 17, 2023.