KUANTAN - Business owners in this area will not increase the price of food even after the government announced a salary increase for approximately 1.6 million civil servants last Friday.
Most of the sellers interviewed said that they would maintain the usual food prices unless there was a significant increase in the cost of raw materials.
One business owner, Nazirul Zuber, 46, said that even though customers received additional income, he did not intend to take advantage of them.
"We will keep the prices as usual because there was already an increase earlier this year. If prices are raised too frequently without a valid reason, customers will leave.
"At the moment, we are in a phase of survival, not seeking profit and luxury," he said when met by Sinar here on Sunday.
Nazirul added that this was part of their efforts to maintain local economic stability and ease the burden on consumers, especially in a challenging economic environment.
He further explained that the increase in customer income would boost their purchasing power, which in turn provides business owners with a bit of profit.
"With this salary increase, customers can choose to buy rice, snacks, bread, and other items. This allows them to spend more," he said.
Meanwhile, Kamaruddin Abdullah, 65, stated that there was no need for him to raise food prices due to the salary increase for civil servants.
He said that the food prices at his shop remained the same so that all segments of society could afford to purchase them.
"Our prices remain the same so that everyone can buy," he said briefly.