PRICES of fresh produce, such as ikan kembung (mackerel), tomatoes, carrots and chicken, have shot up at many wet markets in four areas of the country as the rainy season peaked.

But the prices for these items at supermarkets in the Klang Valley, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak remained stable with some going down, according to a survey by The Malaysian Insight. 

This goes against the prediction by some consumer groups that fresh food prices would go up during the monsoon season.

However, this fact is cold comfort to shoppers, who said they are still pinching pennies to feed their families.

The Malaysian Insight looked at the prices of ikan kembung, chicken, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes and spinach at four wet markets between January 4 and 5.

These prices were compared with the Statistics Department’s list of prices in September 2017, before the start of the monsoon season.

The survey was carried out at four wet markets in Penang, Klang Valley, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Eleven hypermarkets in those areas, four in the Klang Valley, three each in Kuching and Penang, one in Kota Kinabalu were also included. 

The most expensive fresh food item was ikan kembung or Indian mackerel. The high price reflected a nationwide trend that started a few years ago in tandem with fluctuating fuel prices and the start of the goods and services tax (GST).

Prices for the fish, once considered a staple for low-income families, have shot up in wet markets in Sabah, the Klang Valley and Penang.

In the Penampang wet market in Sabah, ikan kembung was sold at RM15 per kg. In the Section 6, Shah Alam wet market, it was between RM18 and RM19 depending on the size.

Several fishmongers at the Bayan Baru market in Penang were not selling the item but said the fish is priced between RM18 and RM20 per kg.

The department’s average price for ikan kembung was RM14.07 per kg in September.

Only the Kota Sentosa wet market in Kuching sold the item at RM14 per kg.

Hypermarkets were not any better, where the fish was priced between RM14.99 per kg (Giant Kelana Jaya, Selangor) and RM18.99 (Giant Tabua Jaya, Kuching).

The lowest price was at Econsave Butterworth, Penang, at RM10.99 per kg, lower than the price in September.

Klang resident Aini Syukri said her family rarely buys fish any more.

“We no longer buy ikan kembung, It’s just too expensive. Same goes for seafood like shrimp and squid,” said the 27-year-old clerk. 

“I used to spend around RM280 on grocery but my spending now is limited to RM300. We can’t go beyond that.”

Daniel Jack, from Kinarut, Papar, avoids buying fish for his family during the rainy season as prices are usually high.

“Prices for chicken and other vegetables are about the same,” said the 40-year-old father of two sons.

Chicken prices have remained below the September average of RM8.60 per kg in almost all the supermarkets and the Shah Alam wet market surveyed.

Poultry prices at wet markets were higher. At the Bayan Baru wet market on Penang island, it was RM9.50 per kg, Kota Sentosa, Kuching (RM8.80) while in Kota Kinabalu it was as high as RM9.98 per kg.     

Shrinking wallet

Prices for the vegetables in the survey were also mostly higher in all wet markets compared with the department’s September average.

However, the tale was also different in hypermarkets which sold cabbages, tomatoes, carrots and spinach at prices lower than before the rainy season started.

Yet Malaysians continued to complain about their shrinking wallets after inflation averaged between 3.8% and 4% in 2017.

Bayan Baru housewife Sapiah Abu Bakar said her family’s grocery bill has increased because of higher prices of fresh food.

“I buy according to what I need. If the price is too expensive, I won’t buy so much. If the price goes down, then I buy a bit more,” said the 64-year-old when met at the Bayan Baru wet market.

Some families such as Jaganathan’s in Kelana Jaya, are forced to absorb the higher prices because of their extended families.

“I have a big family living in one house. We have about 15 people. Every month, RM100 for breakfast only. Now I spend around RM1,200 a month on groceries. I try to adjust and cut back on the expensive items,” said the 53-year-old businessman.  

Factory worker Pak Anjang Rasihun prays that prices will go lower as the new year progresses.

“I usually spend between RM70 and RM80 every week for fresh goods. But now, it has gone up to between RM100 and RM120,” said the 52-year-old father of six who lives in Taman Kandis Permai.

“I’m really worried if the prices will increase again this year. The only thing I can do is to work harder and do extra jobs. I have to find another source of income, to cope.” – January 8, 2018.