Businesses can legally raise their prices but they must not act in a misleading or deceptive way, or give false reasons for any price rises.
— consumerprotection.govt.nz
THE next time you enter an eatery, say a nasi kandar outlet or a simple kopitiam, take the trouble to find out the price before you start eating or drinking.
If the outlet quotes you a price which in your opinion is exorbitant, just walk away. And there’s nothing to be embarrassed about it. Yes, the eatery owner or the people queuing behind you might conclude you can’t afford the meal; so what! It’s your right as a consumer to leave.
I find restaurants — whether Chinese, Malay, Mamak or Indian — overcharging customers these days. Overpricing food, even for a small portion, appears to be the trend now; perhaps businessmen are resorting to wanton price increases to recoup what they had ‘lost’ during the government-imposed movement control orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic the last two years.
Lately, I have been a victim of these unscrupulous outlets. But I will come to that later. But first let’s recall some of the incidents concerning exorbitant food bills, the latest involving a case in Sarawak.
Would you pay RM60 for a bowl of noodle soup with a small portion of catfish or locally known as ikan patin? I for one wouldn’t!
A local broadsheet, The Borneo Post, reported on March 5 that an eatery in Sarikei was compounded RM300 by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry for charging a customer RM60 for a bowl of ikan patin noodle soup.
The hefty compound, causing the owner to suffer fivefold, was imposed under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
The paper quoted a ministry official as saying: “During the investigation, the operator admitted to selling the noodle soup at an exorbitant price. In this particular case, the operator failed to display the price tag of the item or menu offered at the premises, thereby committing an offence under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Goods and Charges for Services) Order 2020. ”
Apparently, the customer had resorted to social media to highlight her grievances which came to the attention of the KPDNHEP. Kudos to the ministry for its quick action. This should serve as a warning to food
outlets not to fleece their customers.
Nevertheless, the woman blamed herself for not asking about the price of the noodle soup before placing an order.
Still remember the Langkawi incident last November? A group of seven diners were billed a whopping RM1,196.80 for a siakap (barramundi) dish in a restaurant there.
One of the unhappy diners uploaded the lunch receipt on social media, claiming that the price was exorbitant.
The lady owner of the restaurant gave her side of the story to the media, claiming that particular fish was not for sale as it was a ‘display fish’ in her aquarium to show to customers.
But apparently the diners insisted on that particular siakap, and as for the price it was clearly stated on the menu — RM16 for every 100g.
Nevertheless, she was charged under Section 53 (A) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and could be fined up to RM50,000 if convicted.
Another fishy incident; this time an eatery in Penang charged a diner RM18 for a tiny portion of salted fish kailan (Chinese leafy vegetable), also last November.
The customer who took to social media claimed she was also charged RM90 for ikan jenahak (snapper fish), mixed vegetables (RM9), and sambal (RM5). The bill for the four dishes came to RM122.
Now, allow me to highlight my own experience.
I went to a popular mamak restaurant in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, two months ago and ordered a plate of mee mamak biasa. What I received instead was a plate of mee which looked and tasted more like our kolok mee! Imagine, no eggs or vegetables (was told they ran out of eggs and veggies).
And the bill came to RM13.50, which included a glass of air suam (warm water).
I complained to the supervisor, threatening to call up his boss. In the end, I ended up paying for the warm water only which cost RM1.
Then just a week ago, I met up with a fella columnist in a kopitiam in Petaling Jaya. He had a cup of teh C while I had teh O kosong.
I paid RM2 for the cup of plain tea. No sugar! When I complained, the owner said with or without sugar, it still cost RM2. My friend’s teh C cost RM2.20, also without sugar! This is daylight robbery lah.
Then just two days ago, I paid RM11.80 for a plate of nasi campur with two types of vegetable — a small portion of bean sprouts and tofu stir-fried, and fried cabbage — with three tablespoons of plain curry!
My fault. I should have demanded that the server quote the price before eating. But he asked me to take my seat and said the bill would come later. I have learned my lesson! Hopefully you guys out there will be wiser and ask for the price first before eating.
The authorities should make it mandatory for all fast food outlets and those serving food in kopitiam to display price tags. Restaurants display prices on their menu so it’s okay.
Anyway, if you think you have been duped, you can contact KPDNHEP.
• Call the Information and Strategic Operations Movement Centre (PIGOS) – 1-800-886-800
• Use the Smartphone App Ez ADU
• Email e-aduan@kpdnkk.gov.my
• SMS 15888 and type in your complaint details
• Submit a e-complaint with KPDNHEP
• Make a report at any KPDNKK office nationwide.
