Expensive site rentals and lack of food supply cause for costly Ramadan bazaar food

SHAH ALAM - The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) have identified two factors for the increase of food prices in Ramadan bazaars, which is namely limited food supply and costly site rentals.

Its President Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason said patrons should not point fingers to the sellers who have raised the prices for their fare.

"We need to understand the concept of supply and demand. If demand is high but there is less supply, then no wonder the food price increases

“To not burden the people, the government needs to provide raw materials which is sufficient in our country before we export food products abroad," he said when contacted on Tuesday.

He was responding to a Sinar Harian report, where the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said they had received 99 price-related complaints of food sold in Ramadan bazaars throughout the country, just five days into the fasting month.

Marimuthu said, the food price increase may be due to the rate of business site rentals which are too exorbitant He explained, if the rental price is too expensive, its not impossible for the rental price is transferred to patrons of the bazaar because patrons are last group in the supply chain system to buy food.

At the same time he also advises sellers to sell food with a reasonable price.

"We cannot control the price of ready-to-cook food but it has to be sold at a price which makes sense.

"Sellers should not let buyers pay expensive food prices that does not commensurate with quality, for example empty curry puff shells without any fillings and then stuffed tofu which only uses a little cucumber and bean sprouts," he explained.

Marimuthu also added that traders should prioritize the level of quality when selling food to customers.