Enforcement officers check a restaurant to ensure there is no profiteering. — Picture by Aishah Afandi
GEORGE TOWN, May 26 — Five ladies’ fingers for RM20?
The Kayu Nasi Kandar restaurant in Bukit Jambul is in trouble with the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry for the seond time in three days over allegations of overcharging patrons.
This time around, an irate customer’s complaint about paying through his nose for ladies’ fingers went viral on social media.
The enforcement officers, who visited the eatery yesterday, had paid a call on the restaurant late last week to investigate a claim it had billed a customer RM2.50 for a roti telur.
Restaurant owner and managing director Burhan Muhamad, who was present during the spot check, initially blamed the exhorbitant price of ladies’ fingers on human error, but later pointed the finger at the system.
He also denied there could be more customers who might have been overcharged.
He said an apology was posted on the restaurant’s official Facebook page on the matter and that the customer could get a refund.
Burhan said the issue of overcharging only cropped up after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented on April 1 and had sparked anger among consumers.
“The Customs Department said all prices must be GST inclusive, so it has been added to the price of each item,” he said.
He also said the price of roti telur was reasonable as it was guaranteed to be of high quality, and the restaurant had provided a comfortable space for customers to enjoy their food.
Even after his explanation, he was issued a notice under Section 21(5) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 that demands the restaurant provide a valid explanation within three days for the price hike.
