GEORGE TOWN: The famous seafood char koay kak at the Batu Lanchang market remains at RM4 a plate and the price of the cucur udang (prawn fritters) there has been unchanged for four years.
Hawkers here are keeping their dishes at affordable prices despite the recent hikes in the price of ingredients and cooking oil.
Char koay kak seller Chan Kean Wei, 45, said that although the cost of ingredients like eggs, rice and prawns has increased, he has not raised his prices.
“I know times are bad and many people are on a tight budget. Instead, I decided to live with a lower profit margin,” he said.
Chan said he uses about 2kg of oil a day.
“I’ve always used vegetable oil, which is not subsidised by the government. I would rather use better quality oil despite the high price,” said Chan.
Cucur udang seller S. Sagar, 64, said he has kept his prices the same for the past four years despite several increases in the price of ingredients.
“The price of 5kg of oil has increased from RM27 to RM32 over the past few months and I use around 4kg of oil every day.
“I just have made the portions smaller.
“I only earn about RM35 a day,” he said, adding that he was grateful his wife S. Kamala, 62, helps him at his stall so he can save on hiring a worker.
Fried fritters seller Yeoh Chin Guan, 72, however, said he had no choice but to raise prices by about 10 sen.
“Some of my fried items that cost RM1.30 each have been raised to RM1.40 or at most, RM1.50.
“Ingredients like oil, flour and glutinous rice all cost more now. The flour that I use increased from RM19 to RM30 in just a few months.
“I use about 10kg of oil a day. The price of a 17kg bottle of oil has gone from RM100 to RM140 recently.
“We have no choice but to raise the prices,” he said, adding that he has been in the trade for over 30 years.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the temporary subsidy programme for 1kg, 2kg, 3kg, and 5kg bottled cooking oil, which was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, would be discontinued from July 1. This has led to an estimated 40% rise in cooking oil prices.
Ismail Sabri, however, said the subsidy for cooking oil in 1kg polybags, first announced in 2007, is still in effect.
Chicken prices have also risen to RM9.40 a kg, up by 50 sen while chicken egg prices have gone up by 2 sen each for all grades. The new prices will be in effect until Aug 31.