Hawkers mulling over increasing food prices

GEORGE TOWN: Eating out may become costlier as hawkers are mulling over the possibility of increasing prices following the subsidy rationalisation for cooking oil from Tuesday.
Char Koay Teow seller Lee Seng Seng, 65, told theSun he was caught in a bind as people may be turned off if he increase his prices.
On the other hand, he has to bear the increase costs if he does not increase his prices and noted people were tightening their belts in this uncertain economic period.
He may, however, have to increase prices by 10sen to cover costs including rental, utilities and salary for his assistant.
“This is a bitter pill to swallow,” he said when met at the food court in Lorong Swatow here recently.
Chee Cheong Fun (rice rolls) seller Ah Beng, 56, is also unhappy with the situation.
If worse comes to worst, he has no choice but to increase a plate of his rolls by 10sen and hopes his customers understand.
Mee Goreng seller Obadullah, 67, noted the business environment was not static and people like him have to cope with changing situations.
He would stick to his current price of RM4 for a plate of fried noodles and hopes the government could come up with programmes to lighten the burden.
Meanwhile, a possible rise in prices have had its impact on workers with clerk Aminah Majid, 35, packing food from home for lunch as one way to reduce spending.
However technician Lim Kean Seng, 32, however has no time to cook due to his busy schedule and will have his lunch and dinner outside.
Under the restructuring, subsidies for cooking oil in 500gm, 1kg, 2kg and 3kg bottles were removed from Nov 1 while the subsidy for the 5kg bottle continues until end 2016 while the subsidy for the 1kg polybag cooking oil continues.