Allow restaurant groups direct import of raw materials, govt urged

 

J Suresh of the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association says members taking part in the Menu Rahmah scheme have been operating at a loss.

PETALING JAYA: A group representing Indian restaurants has called on Putrajaya to issue them with licences to allow them to import raw food materials directly to lower food prices.

J Suresh of the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) said restaurants taking part in the Menu Rahmah scheme have recently been incurring losses due to expensive raw materials such as chicken and eggs after selling set meals at RM5.

“The public is complaining that food prices have skyrocketed, but we (restaurants) should not be blamed for it,” he told FMT.

“We have had to incur higher prices for supplies of raw food materials that pass through several parties. Why can’t the goods be delivered straight to us?

“Primas can distribute the raw materials to member restaurants, especially those that participate in the Menu Rahmah scheme. This would allow the restaurants to reduce their food prices,” he said.

Domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub had said recently his ministry will conduct a study to refine the incentives for food operators involved in the Menu Rahmah initiative.

Salahuddin said the study will be carried out after Hari Raya, Bernama reported.

Allow restaurants to use subsidised cooking oil

Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, president of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma), suggested that the government incentivise restaurants that take part in the affordable meal scheme by allowing them to use subsidised cooking oil.

He said the government can allocate a quota of subsidised cooking oil that these restaurants can use. This incentive could be seen as a token of appreciation for restaurants that take part in the scheme, he said.

Currently, restaurants are prohibited from using subsidised cooking oil packed in polybags, which are being sold at RM2.50 per packet.

Jawahar said the government should also explore the idea of subsidising wholesalers that supply raw materials to these restaurants.

“However, they should also study how to prevent any such subsidy from being misused and becoming a financial burden to the government,” he told FMT.

The government should also consider issuing certificates to businesses that take part in the scheme, as an incentive to ensure their participation in the longer term, said Jawahar.

He said the voluntary scheme has boosted the businesses of some 30% of Presma’s 10,000 member businesses.

“Customers are patronising the restaurants not just because they sell Menu Rahmah meals, but because these businesses are supporting this meaningful scheme,” he said. - FMT