F1 mania turns sour as fans bite into ‘exorbitant’ food prices

 Social media lights up with complaints such as RM50 for a packet of fried rice and RM25 for iced Milo or juice.

Social media lights up with complaints of prices such as RM50 for a packet of fried rice and RM25 for iced Milo or juice. (Threads pics)

PETALING JAYA:

“Exorbitant” prices for food and drinks at the Sepang motor racing circuit has made motor racing fans turn sour at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with prices of as much as RM50 for a plate of fried rice.

Social media lit up with complaints over the weekend, with some users pondering whether Malaysians were the actual target audience. Many posts on Threads said prices were far higher than those at ordinary restaurants.

Threads user @myk3_mash questioned how a plate of fried rice could cost RM50. “I swear I bought this for RM7 at a mamak shop yesterday,” said the user.

Another Threads user, @erinezzati, quipped that sellers might be setting prices based on the foreign exchange rate. “They follow the Bahrain currency. That is why (prices are) high after conversion,” she said.

Threads user Nazri Hamdan (@nazrihamdan_) said a family of four might end up spending more than RM100 for food and beverages at the event.

“From the sellers’ standpoint, mega events like this come with operating and location costs that differ vastly from those at an ordinary venue. But when basic meals like nasi lemak and instant noodles are sold at premium prices, people should ask what is driving the prices up,” he said in his post.

Another Threads user, @daripadakeme.gifts, shared a photo of a bill showing charges of RM50 for nasi goreng kunyit, RM30 for a mango asam boi drink, RM25 for iced Milo, RM25 for fruit juice and RM25 for nuggets and keropok lekor.

“No wonder I did not feel like going to the F1 race. Clearly, we are not the target audience,” said the user, while Threads user @nadeahna suggested that F1 fans bring their own food and drinks.

“Feel like crying looking at the pricing,” @nadeahna said. - FMT