‘Display price list of F&B products’

KOTA KINABALU: Coffeeshop operators should display the prices of their food and beverages amid growing complaints of sudden increases in cost, says a local consumer group.

Sabah West Coast Smart Consumers Association president David Chan said legally, the operators must display price tags for their food and beverages.

“Many consumers have complained to me that the prices of drinks have increased by 30% to 50% in many coffeeshops,” he said.

“Regular patrons are surprised and confused by the sharp rise,” he said, adding that both hot and iced drinks as well as food were seeing increases.

Many coffeeshops in the city, he added, failed to display signs notifying customers of the new prices.

Urging them to avoid profiteering, Chan said they should not take advantage of the recent food price hike or use the 7% rise in minimum wage as an excuse.

Meanwhile, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) supreme council member Yong Yit Jee urged the state government to come out with measures to control the high price of pork.

He urged the state Agriculture and Fisheries Ministries to investigate the root cause and devise effective counter-measures to curb the seemingly never-ending hikes of pork prices.

He said in both Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, the cost of a 100kg live pig was around RM1,300 whereas in Sabah, the price ranged around RM1,900.

“In Sarawak, the retail price for pork belly is around RM26 to RM29 per kg. In Sabah, it’s around RM42 to RM45 per kg, which is 40% more higher,” he said, adding that consumers in Sabah had experienced at least five price hikes for pork.

He said despite the import of pork products being allowed, this had done little to ease the price of pork after production was hit by the African Swine Fever (ASF) and the rising cost of feed.