Inflationary spike? Mothers fume at school canteen dishing out pathetic noodles portion at RM3/plate

 

A MOTHER has made a shocking discovery that her child’s presumably national school canteen is charging RM3 for a pint-sized portion of “protein-less fried yellow noodles and kueh teow (flat rice noodles).

Admitting that she did not feel the pinch because her school-going child brought food from home daily, the mother who goes by the name Kekfa (@efaperfume) nevertheless felt sorry for other children and their parents.

“In my opinion, the portion is not worth the price. Or you guys think it’s OK? Even my regular breakfast stall serves better portion for RM3,” the mother who has been running a perfume business since 2012 (as per her profile) penned on the X platform.

“I don’t get anything even if I had lied. I felt very sad watching their chicken nasi lemak as well. The sambal, rice and few pieces of popcorn chicken costs RM5 ”

Although Kekfa did not name the school, many fuming mothers have apparently shared her sentient by taking the canteen operator to task.

A few commented that while the portion could be small because school kids have ‘small tummies’ the pricing should at least be halved to commensurate with the portion.

In fact, an infuriated mother encouraged the poster to report to the school authorities while observing that “at least it’s acceptable if there’s protein content but there’s none at all”.

One commenter showcased an ‘adult-sized’ mee goreng mamak breakfast from his nearby workplace which is priced at RM3.50 or a mere 5o sen more.

Reacting to the above comments, Kekfa contended that she accorded benefit of doubt to the canteen operator as “they could be lazier as year-end looms”. But she would surely “protest at the next PIBG (Parent-Teacher Association) meeting”.

“After all, I only found out today when I fetched my kid home early and came across the meals. As such, I don’t have proof if such is the situation all these while,” she shared.

This is when some mothers started to compare notes with one displaying a RM4.50 complete meal package at her child’s SJKC (Chinese national-type primary school) which is to be paid monthly while another disclosed that her child’s private school charges RM7.20 for two complete meals.

Delving into the intricacies of business, one father lamented at how traders are “always rushing” to bid for school canteen operator tenders given “they can expect to profit 400%-500% more than to run an eatery”.

One supposedly food business owner reckoned that year-end would be the time when new canteen operators come on board.

On this note, she stated that the new operator should be aware that the portion of their food must commensurate with what was quoted in their tender while wondering if teachers themselves are aware of the matter.

Another mother shared how teachers at her school “are already tired arguing with the long-serving canteen operator who’s big-headed because he has a ‘cable’ to look after his interest”.

The moral of the story is best summed up by this commenter: “It’s like just one scoop-ful … I feel sorry for the children eating it.” 

- focus malaysia