Eatery that went viral for exorbitant prices fined RM200

KOTA KINABALU: Business owners, particularly eatery operators, have been reminded to obey the law after a restaurant here was caught red-handed for flouting the rules.

Undercover officers from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry were sent to the restaurant in Foh Sang after the public complained over its pricey food on Friday.

The ministry’s Sabah office director Georgie Abas said two of his men went to the premises in plainclothes and pretended to be customers, making a test purchase, after the complaints went viral on social media earlier.

He added other personnel in uniform then joined them to help in the exercise codenamed Op Samar.

“As a result, we found that the operator did not put up a full price board at the restaurant nor did it clearly state the additional charges to be paid by customers if they wished to add on their food items.

“The restaurant also failed to state the prices for two types of canned drinks it sold.

“Subsequently, the team issued a RM200 compound notice on the spot to the operators,” Georgie said in a statement.

He said the operator was booked under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 for failing to provide the price of items.

The operator was advised to update and clearly state the prices of food and drinks, he added.

Georgie said the ministry will continue to monitor the restau- rant from time to time to ensure that the operator followed the rules.

He added that consumers must also make it a habit to exercise their right of requesting for receipts from business establishments.

If businesses did not provide receipts, he added, the public may report the matter to the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317 or 019-848 8000 or by contacting its Call Centre at 1-800 886 800 or its Enforcement Command Centre at 03-8882 6088 / 6245.

He said consumers may also file online complaints through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my or email [e-mail] or they can choose to visit the nearest ministry office.