FED UP of paying over the odds for a no-frills roti John or a murtabak sans filling at Ramadan bazaars?
Much of the grouses regarding overpriced Ramadan bazaar fare is typically linked to high rental charges and cartels gobbling up lots and sub-letting them at exorbitant rates.
It is thus another feather in the cap for newly minted Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh for carefully managing the interest of Muslims despite all the doubts cast by rightists at the outset of the Dec 16 cabinet reshuffle.
Recall that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has recently lowered site rental for this year’s Bazar Ramadan to RM400 for the forthcoming fasting month, down by a RM100 from the previous year during the tenure of the DAP lawmaker’s predecessor Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
The move to ease cost burden and protect the welfare of small traders in Kuala Lumpur further entails:
Inclusion of canopy and public liability insurance despite the RM100 rental reduction;
Ban on subletting, site sale & purchase and excessive profiteering; and
Daily inspections by DBKL, KKM (Heath Ministry) & KPDN (Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry) at 41 bazaar locations.
The Segambut MP contended that this effort reflects the Madani administration’s commitment in ensuring that rental process of Ramadan bazaars is fairer, more integrity-based and more people-friendly.
There can be no doubting that the former youth and sports and minister and DAP assistant national publicity secretary is off to a good start in her new portfolio given she has earned many brownie points from her goodwill gesture with the Muslim community beginning to warm to her.
Responding to claims by traders that food prices are very much tied to site rental rates, pro-Madani influencer Roman Akromovic (@SyedAkramin) has proffered a simple piece of advice – “boycott greedy traders”.
Repeating the claims of many citizens that food prices at many Ramadan bazaars were exorbitant due to high rental as well as unscrupulous practices by cartels in charging up to RM20,000 in rental for a precious lot, the online entrepreneur applauded the move by Dr. Zaliha and Yeoh in reducing the rental rates.
It was argued that if the numerous steps taken to combat rising prices do not bring about the desired change and a simple roti John was being sold at RM15, then simply do NOT buy from that vendor or perhaps just avoid bazaars that had a proliferation of such traders.
The post on X has generated 388.6K views at time of publication, denoting that many commenters were keen to have their say on the issue.
Top of the agenda was whether a boycott would be successful or indeed plausible if the said RM15 roti John was super-duper delicious. This comment clearly shows the priorities of certain Malaysians when it comes to finger-licking grub!
This sentiment was echoed by another observer who felt that success of any boycott of greedy traders would be dependent on consumers’ ability to rein in their appetites.
Some were sceptical that this reduction in rental rates would bring about a change in food pricing as cartels would still be carrying out unethical practices “in the name of the Malay cause”.
Quite a few bazaar frequenters were in agreement that a boycott would definitely bring about a change – as simple as no demand, no supply.
Pointless to grouse on social media if hungry diners insist on patronising over-priced vendors as those traders will continue to charge “Malay prices”. ‘Exercise the power of the consumer’ was the message here.
While the move to reduce rental rates is to be lauded, it remains to be seen whether it will have the desired effect in bringing down food prices at these Ramadan bazaars.
A clear message from the consumers is needed to truly bring about a change – the need to hang a banner with the message: “WE BOYCOTT IF PRICES ARE EXCESSIVE”.
Otherwise, it will be business as usual.
- Focus Malaysia
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