Food Pricing Affair

As a regular to any coffee shop, we all know how easy it is for the food operator to raise price. Just any excuse, like the recent fuel price hike, instantly resulted in various drinks increasing by 10 cents. The increase looks paltry so most consumer just pays up, though we just make feeble attempts at protest.

Well not so with the restaurant eatery in the news below in Cameron Highlands. One up for the consumer? Nah, it is just a matter of time before inflation catches up and our disposable income as well as savings just get smaller as time goes by.

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Restaurant in hot water for charging 10 sen more
Tuesday March 14, 2006

IPOH: A restaurant operator will be prosecuted for charging a Perak Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs enforcement officer 10 sen extra for roti canai.

Department director Mohd Khalis Kasim said the officer had posed as a customer at the restaurant in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, after receiving a complaint from the public on Sunday.

“According to receipts issued by the restaurant operator, customers were charged RM1 per piece of roti canai although the price list displayed at the restaurant stated only RM0.90 each.

“The operator in Tanah Rata was also found to have been charging a different price from the price list for roti puri,” he told reporters at the Kinta City Shopping Centre here yesterday.

He said the restaurant owner would be charged under Section 14(2) of the Trade Description Act 1972, which carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or a maximum three-year jail term, or both.

Earlier, Mohd Khalis headed a team to inspect prices at the shopping centre’s food court.

“None of the 15 stalls at the food court was found to have raised prices.

“We did, however, receive complaints from the public that drinking water sold there is slightly higher at RM1.50 per 500ml bottle,” he said.

The department, he said, was going all-out to keep tabs on food prices in Perak and the Cameron Highlands following the rise in fuel costs.

“We are checking on wholesalers, producers, hypermarkets, supermarkets, mini markets, restaurants, food stalls, food courts, bus stations and lay-bys along the expressway,” he said.

“Canteens at schools, institutions of higher learning and hospitals will not be spared.”

Source: The Star