Salary increase: Traders have no intention to raise prices

GEORGETOWN - The recent salary increase for civil servants announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not impact food vendors.

Sinar survey found that most traders believe this announcement was not a valid reason to raise food prices instead, food prices depend on the cost of raw materials.

The owner of Nasi Kandar Thaiyyub Restaurant in Kepala Batas, Muhammad Azmin Mohamed Maideen, 33, said that the salary increases for civil servants had no connection with the rise in the prices of goods or food.

He said it was not a reason to increase the prices of food and beverages.

“The salary increase for civil servants typically does not lead to a rise in prices because they are under the government. Therefore, the prices of food and drinks at my restaurant will remain the same, with no increase.

“Usually, prices rise when the private sector’s wages increase because they raise prices to cover employee salaries,” he said when contacted on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the owner of Fatimah Nasi Melayu, Muhammad Hazrizal Md Yusoff, 33, said that the prices of food at his shop in Kampung Melayu depended on the cost of raw materials from suppliers.

Continuing the business his mother started over 30 years ago, he said that the food prices at his premises had never been excessively raised, as they obtained raw materials from suppliers at a low cost.

“The prices at my shop depend on the supplier’s rates. We have never increased food prices based on customers’ salaries. In fact, I recently reduced the price of dishes like chicken.

“Previously, I sold a piece of chicken for between RM4.50 and RM5, but in the past two weeks, I have been selling it for RM3.50.

“This is because I have a supplier who provides raw materials at a lower price. So, it wouldn’t be fair to sell it at a high price,” he added.