RESTAURANT and stall owners have denied Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s accusation that they are refusing to lower their prices even though the cost of raw ingredients has dropped.

They said the prices of raw ingredients have remain largely unchanged and even risen in some cases. 

Budget rice seller Nurul Ain Azmi in Kuala Terengganu has not seen a drop in the prices of ingredients. 

“The price of chicken may have gone down a little but other ingredients now cost more. The price of chicken used to be 8.90. Now it is RM8.10,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

Nurul said she used to spend RM300 on chillies, onions and oil but now she spends RM400. 

Last week, Rafizi said restaurant and food stall owners were still refusing to lower their prices even though the cost of raw ingredients had dropped. 

“People get angry when they see the prices of raw ingredients declining and electricity rates maintained but restaurants and other food outlets still charging the same,” he said.

Nurul denied this.

“I can’t lower my prices. I’ve also had to reduce the portion of chicken to cut costs,’ she said.

Nurul said she started doing business in 2016. Back then, she sold a packet of rice at RM3.

“Two years ago I raised it to RM3.50 and when the prices of ingredients went up, I sold it at RM4-5.  For about two years now I have not increased my prices.” 

She said her customers are usually people who live alone and don’t wish to cook.

A nasi kandar restaurant owner in Kelana Jaya, who wished to be known as Shaikh, said Rafizi was speaking as though he was still an opposition lawmaker. 

“When was the last time Rafizi went to the market?” Shaikh said. 

“We run a food business and we are at the market almost every day. He said the prices of various ingredients have dropped but that’s not true.”

He said the price of cucumber has risen from RM2 to RM5 per kg. A carton of 48 cans of condensed milk used to cost RM48 but now it costs nearly RM140. The price of lime has skyrocketed from  RM4 to RM11 per kg.

“We are selling nasi kandar. I’ve not even spoken about the spices yet. Even the spice powders have cost more over the past months. The prices of raw spices like black pepper, cinnamon sticks and others have increased. So what is Rafizi talking about?”

Shaikh said the minister should stop talking and get to work.

“These politicians can change their tune as they want and Rafizi is one of them.”

“Tell him to focus on scandals like LCSs (littoral combat ships) and not meddle with food prices because he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

A food stall owner in Nilai, who identified himself as Tamil, said it is impossible not to raise prices when costs soar.

“It has a chain effect. When the supplier raises the price, we have no choice but to raise ours. We can’t afford to absorb the costs because we will lose money,” he said.

“We also can’t change our prices every day because the prices of chicken, cooking oil and others fluctuate.”

He said the government must work to reduce the prices of all food.

“It is not enough to control the prices of chicken and cooking oil.”

Ali Maju restaurant owner Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said the economic affairs minister should be focusing on larger matters, such as reviving the economy and attracting foreign investors to Malaysia.

“The prices of food in a restaurant are determined by many factors, especially operating costs. For example, rent vastly varies in the urban and rural areas. Everything – labour, electricity, Unifi, Astro, Indahwater and water – now cost drastically more” he said.

“As consumers, we should also know how to evaluate the prices in the shop. If they’re not worth it, then don’t go in. It’s very simple.”

He said a restaurant contributes to other businesses. 

“It pays rent, contractors for renovations, stainless steel suppliers for kitchen appliances, tables and chairs. And then there are payments for the supply of chicken, fish, vegetables, coconut milk, gas, ice, plastic, and packing materials. So everyone gets to make a living.

“So it is unwise to advise people to boycott restaurants.” – January 25, 2023.