Malaysian
Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) secretary-general T.
Thanabalan said there would be no increase in the prices.
“All 1,500 members have agreed to this,” he said.
“We are comfortable with the current pricing bracket although the prices of vegetables are fluctuating.
“Some
customers have complained before that our price was too steep although a
banana leaf meal is always accompanied by a serving of a variety of
vegetables and meat.
“So, we have decided to maintain our prices like what they were in 2000,” Thanabalan said.
He
said the price of banana leaf meals with basic servings were between
RM6 and RM8, adding that those who ordered additional dishes like crab
and mutton would have to fork out more.
Thanabalan
said some members suggested that the price of a basic banana leaf meal
be charged RM10 because of escalating prices of vegetables and rice.
“However,
we shot down the suggestion and wanted members to maintain the prices
like what it was more than a decade ago,” he said.
Association
members, he said, found it hard to cope with increasing prices of the
essentials but remained committed in providing affordable pricing.
He
said there was a possibility that members would further slash prices if
the Domestic Trade, Co-Operative and Consumerism Ministry could help
reduce the price of items like rice and sugar.
“It’s in the hands of the ministry to find a mechanism, especially with the drastic reduction of fuel costs.
Thanabalan said the association also warned its members from trying to indiscriminately raise prices.
“Members
who defy the association’s pricing guidelines would have to relinquish
their membership – and we wouldn’t defend them in future,” he warned.
Islamic Consumer Association (PPIM)’s president Datuk Nadzim Johan said the ministry should not focus on enforcement alone.
“It needs to work on changing the mindset of traders and suppliers to understand the predicament of the end users.”