JOHOR BARU: The three months of rent exemption for school canteen operators until March 31 will only be a small relief for a canteen operator here.Fauziah Mohamad, who has been operating a primary school canteen in Kota Tinggi for the past eight years, said the school management only told her that she did not need to pay rent for now.
“The exemption will end in March and the Ramadan fasting month will begin on March 22. This means I can’t open my canteen for five weeks.“But I still need to pay salaries to my eight workers and pay the monthly electricity and water bills,” she said in an interview.
Fauziah, 62, also said prices of items such as chicken, fish and vegetables had gone up but she was not allowed to increase prices.
“Parents and the school management will be upset if we raise prices although we have to fork out more to buy raw materials,” she said.
She also said the Supplementary Food Plan Programme (RMT), which sees a RM1 increase from RM2.50 to RM3.50 for Peninsular Malaysia, was inadequate for canteen operators due to the increased prices of ingredients.
“Even raw materials in rural areas are expensive. Canteen operators can no longer buy cooking oil packets as they are meant for households. Now, we are using bottled cooking oil, which is more costly,” she added.
Mother of three Siti Nur Aqilla Omar, 35, said her eldest daughter would be in Year Two when the new school term starts in March.
“I usually prepare food for her and RM3 as pocket money daily in case she wants to buy snacks at the school canteen.
“If the prices of food go up, then it will be a burden for us as I have two other children going to school soon,” she said.
Businessman Raja Faliq Raja Adam, 39, who has four children, said his eldest two were in primary school and were given RM5 daily to buy food and snacks.
“If the food prices go up, they will still get RM5 as pocket money so they need to spend it wisely,” he said.On Saturday, the ministry announced that canteen operators and tenants in schools would enjoy three months of rent exemption until March 31.
In a statement issued by the school management division, the exemption was extended due to the short 35-day school term in the 2021/2022 academic session.
The initiative came after complaints by canteen operators and tenants whose income was affected due to the increase in the price of goods and ingredients.
“The school administrators through the student affairs committee constantly monitor and hold discussions with canteen operators to ensure their services comply with the canteen contract and management handbook, including the list and price of food sold,” the ministry said.
