At the Mercy of Greedy Stall Owners

By MICHAEL NG

MALAYSIANS love food and most of us eat at odd hours. To cater to our

gastronomical urges, we have many 24-hour food courts and mamak stalls.

However, of late, the prices of some food items and drinks in a few of

these places have gone up. The blame is put squarely on the recent

increase in fuel prices.

What I cannot fathom is how a 10 or 20-sen increase in the price of

fuel impacts on the price of, say, a bowl of noodles or a glass of iced

drink.

Everyone knows that in any successful food business, the profit margin

is high because the operational costs are low. I am sure the noodle shop

owner can easily make several bowls of tasty noodles from just a

kilogramme of plain noodles. It doesn’t take a genius to know how much

profit is made.

The authorities cannot regulate the prices of food. These are based on

demand and supply. All they can do is suggest that the public boycott

eating places which charge exorbitant prices. However, this is easier

said than done, knowing how fond we are of our food.

People need to eat. It is because of this that stall owners are not

afraid of raising prices knowing their regulars would keep coming back.

MICHAEL NG

Seremban