No Increase In Meal Prices At Indian Muslim Restaurants

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Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, president of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association, said the quality of food and size of portions would remain.PETALING JAYA: A group of Indian Muslim restaurateurs has vowed not to randomly increase prices on their menus following the recent rise in the price of imported white rice.
Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association president Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said the restaurants rely on imported rice for 80% of their usage as local rice was insufficient to meet the demand.
However, increasing prices was a “last option”.
Ads by KioskedHe gave an assurance that there would be no drop in the quality of food or the size of portions prepared by the 12,000 members of the association.
Jawahar said the price increase would potentially take a small bite out of their profit margins.
Jawahar Ali Taib Khan.“If they were recording profit margins of 10%, the price hike for imported rice would see it dip to 8%. But we won’t be making losses,” he told FMT.
Jawahar also said that the association accepted the explanation of Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) for the price adjustment.
On Friday, Bernas said the price of imported white rice would go up to RM3,200 per tonne from RM2,350.
Mydin hypermarket managing director Ameer Ali Mydin said the increase will affect household monthly spending on rice.
Ads by KioskedHe said 98% of the rice in the market in the last three months comprised imported rice.
Based on his calculations, considering the hypermarket sells 1,000 packets of 10kg rice a day, the price increase is roughly around RM7 or 22% for every 10kg.
“So if a family of five eats two meals a day, their monthly expenses (for rice) will increase by RM21,” Ameer said.
He also said there was a risk that certain wholesalers or retailers would stockpile white rice and attempt to exploit the increase in prices by selling the older stock at the latest rate.
Ameer urged the domestic trade and cost of living ministry to take stern action against such unscrupulous retailers. - FMT

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