Pro-MCA NGO wants KFC boycott but says research not done

An NGO linked to MCA has called on the public to boycott the KFC fast-food chain over what it claimed was non-transparency over its menu pricing.

The newly-formed NGO, the Malaysia Anti-inflation Movement, held a press conference to announce this in Semenyih today on the last of campaigning for the by-election there tomorrow.

Ng Kian Nam, the NGO's legal consultant, urged consumers to boycott KFC claiming the company “silently” raised its prices.

The press conference today was held at a KFC restaurant. Ng is also chairperson of MCA's Civil Society Movement Bureau.

Ng attempted to hand over a memorandum from the NGO on KFC price increased but met with no response from the restaurant staff (below). 

A member of the NGO, Kelvin Lee, then read out the statement which called on KFC to disclose any price increases for its menu items and if the SST was one of the reasons for the hikes.

“We urge the consumers to boycott KFC until they give a clear explanation and statement to consumers,” said Lee.

“We also urge the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs to announce the results into these price hikes and also probe if they have violated the Consumers Protection Act, the Competition Act and the Anti-Profiteering Act.”

Ng claimed fast-food chains KFC and McDonald had increased their prices alleging the former's had seen a 30 percent hike. Asked for the source of his date, Ng he could reveal it as yet.

He added that they could not do complete research as they couldn't find menu prices from other countries to compare to Malaysia's.

Citing the rising prices of KFC items which sparked controversy, Ng said the country's inflation rate was far higher than the one percent as announced by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Jan 31, 2019.

QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd, the company that owns KFC, had stated previously the price increase effective December 2018 was because the listed prices would be inclusive of the six percent SST. However, they later denied the price adjustments had any relation to the SST.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry then launched an investigation after which QSR Brands explained that the price increase was due to the increase in their cost of manufacturing.

The ministry has since requested them to submit a written explanation. - Mkini