Traders forced to increase selling prices during rainy weather

SHAH ALAM - Food item traders have expressed that they were forced to increase their selling prices to consumers due to the price hike by suppliers.

A quick Sinar Harian’s survey at the Pandan Wholesale Market yesterday found that traders have acknowledged a slight increase in the price of goods such as fish, chicken, and meat, as well as forgetting vegetables.

Fish trader, Muhammad Syukri Salle Huddin, 21, said the supply of fish is available, but prices have slightly increased compared to before.

He said the increase was due to limited stock from suppliers, especially for certain types of fish.

"The supply is there, and it's mostly sea fish; it's just that the price is a little high for the ones that are not available (limited) because the suppliers also set high prices.

"What is available is farm bred fish or pond fish (freshwater fish). Seafood is quite scarce at the moment.

"But, God willing, in the next two or three days when the rain subsides, supplies will be there as usual," he told Sinar Harian in an interview.

He further said the increase was due to the high price from the supplier.

"It has also been affected because vegetable cultivation follows the weather, so when there is less supply, suppliers also send fewer stocks (vegetables).

"So the price has to be raised. It's really difficult because the supplier is raising the price now," he said.

Meanwhile, chicken trader Sujeono, 36, said supplies can still be obtained as usual from suppliers at a reasonable price.

However, he said, another problem arises when the number of customers who visit is somewhat reduced compared to before.

"For me, supplying chicken is not a problem, the price is neither expensive nor cheap these days.

"It's just that when it rains like this, there are fewer customers. Maybe after the rain, there will be more customers," he said.

Consumers have also expressed the increase in price is burdening the people.

Forty-six-year-old Roslan Aziz said there is indeed an increase in the price of fish, chicken, meat and vegetables during the current rainy season.

Therefore, he said, traders should place price tags clearly so that public can make easy choices.

"There are some places that don't put price tags, this is a problem for us as consumers to budget our expenses.

"For vegetables we understand the problem now that it's raining, but the price is really high right now," he said.

Meanwhile, for Raja Putra Raja Abdullah, 58, the price of fish in the market is currently showing an increase of 20 to 30 per cent.

However, he said, the increase may be due to fishermen not being able to go down to the sea as usual.

"For me, I realise there is an increase prices especially for fishes because fishermen don't go down to the sea or maybe there are places that are flooded.

"So, the price of fish has gone up, but we need to buy fish and we buy it anyway," he said.