Seeing red in Malacca over rising cost of greens

MALACCA: Consumers in the state are seeing red over the increase in vegetable prices by between 50% and 100%.

A check at the Malacca Central wet market and Batu Berendam wholesale market has shown that, with traders blaming the hike on the hot spell and intermittent rain.

The increase is apparent in red chilli (from RM12 to RM23 per kg), cili padi (RM8 to RM16), green mustard (RM3 to RM6.50), spinach (RM1.50 to RM3) and kangkung sawi bunga (RM4 to RM8).

Vegetable trader S. Karuppiah said the price could return to normal by mid-June “once the weather conditions stabilise”.

“Vegetable prices have been unstable since March due to short supply.

“The middlemen were left with no choice as the farmers couldn’t meet demand because of the dry spell,” he said.

A trader at Central Market, Lye Ming Zhu, said the middlemen were now charging them extra due to the shortage.

He said even the prices of chicken had gone up due to insufficient supply from farms.

“Customers are venting their frustration on us but we are in a bind too due to supply shortage,” he added.

Malacca Coffeeshop and Restau­rant Owners Association chairman Wong Teu Hoon said its members were advised to absorb the cost for now.

“We can’t burden the customers and we will maintain our pricing until the prices of vegetables are back to normal,” he said.