Some canteens charge more, some cut portions

Some canteens charge more, some cut portions

KUALA LUMPUR - MOST state Education Departments have not received complaints on canteen operators increasing their prices for a reason: most of them have not done so.

But many had resorted to other measures to ease the rising costs, including reducing the food portions and laying off the extra help.

Parents and students were not happy with the smaller portions, which some claimed were reduced up to a quarter.

Nur Khatijah Malik, 14, said her school canteen had downsized her favourite nasi lemak that cost RM1 (S$0.40).

"I get hungry again after a few hours," said Khatijah, who started bringing food from home yesterday.

S. Rajan, 16, a student from one of the top schools here, said he used to get five pieces of kuih or keropok lekor for RM1. But since Jan 2, it had been reduced to three.

Most school canteens in George Town, Penang, were keeping their old prices but complained they would not be able to sustain their livelihood if they kept doing so.

A canteen operator in Jalan Mesjid Negeri said his daily earnings had shrunk since Thursday, the first day of school.

Another school canteen operator in Jalan Ayer Itam said he was forced to terminate his part-time workers.

State director of education Datuk Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin reminded the operators they were not allowed to raise their prices indiscriminately.

"I understand their problem and they need to discuss this with their respective schools. They should consider all options, including reducing the number of food items, to maintain their costs."

Negri Sembilan director of education Kalsom Khalid confirmed that prices of food sold at schools in the state had not increased.

"We monitored them on the first and second day of school and found that none did so. But if we receive complains, we will send our personnel to check."

School canteen operators in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, had also kept to the old prices despite the sharp increase in the prices of sugar, fish and vegetables.

At SK Batu Rakit canteen, a plate of nasi lemak or chicken rice is sold at RM1. Drinks cost between 50 sen and RM1 a cup. The school canteen operator, Marida Deraman, 30, said food prices between 30 sen and RM1 would not burden the pupils.

"We understand that people here are not wealthy and they cannot afford to give their kids extra pocket money if we increase our prices."

Some school canteens in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, had cut their food portions to retain their prices. SMK Sanzac canteen operator Alfiana Mohd Alias said he started doing so when the prices of ingredients went up.

"If the prices go down, we will serve the portion like we used to."

State education director Datuk Jame Alip said although there were no complaints about pricier canteen food, the department would monitor the situation.

It was however, a different story for many schools in Teluk Intan, Perak, as checks revealed that canteen operators had raised their prices.

S. Thurga, 17, a student at SMK Horley Methodist, said a bowl of curry mee now cost RM1.40 compared with RM1.30 last year.

"The price of chicken nuggets has also increased. Last year, four pieces cost RM1. Since school started, students have to pay RM1.20 for three."

Thurga said she could only buy buns and a canned drink with her RM2 pocket money.

K. Sarthiwaran, a Form Four student at SMK St Anthony, said while prices of drinks and food such as fried rice remained the same, others like curry puff had increased by 20 sen.

Students of SMK Sam Tet in Ipoh are also feeling the pinch, with drinks and snacks going up by 20 sen.

A student, who only wished to be known as Ashley, said the operator cited the recent electricity tariffs hike as the reason behind the increase.

On the other hand, SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh principal Lee Weng Who said most of his school canteen operators had not raised their prices.

"Out of seven operators at our school, only one had raised the price to match grocery price charged outside the school."

He said the operator, who was hired only this year, had since been reprimanded to lower his price.

The situation was similar in Kedah. Parents had complained after noticing a spike in prices at some school canteens.

One parent, whose son goes to a primary school in Padang Terap, said she needed to fork out RM5 daily for her son's pocket money.

A plate of rice with egg sambal had increased to RM1.70 while a plate of rice with fried chicken was sold at RM2.50. A cup of drink cost 70 sen.

"The prices are quite steep for parents and I hope that the relevant authorities will look into this."

The canteen operator at SMK Keat Hwa in Kuala Kedah said she had maintained her prices for the new school term.

However, she said keropok lekor was no longer on the menu.

In Pekan, Pahang, school canteen operators said they dare not increase their prices as they had agreed with the price list in their contracts.

"We cannot simply change the prices without the school administration's consent. The food prices are similar to last year as I can still absorb the hike in the prices of ingredients," said Nurhafizah Abdul Aziz, a 27-year-old canteen operator at SMK Indera Shahbandar in Kuala Pahang, Pekan.

Kamariah Jamaluddin, a 30-year-old cook at SK Taman Tas canteen in Kuantan, said the operator did not increase the price of food as she could still earn a profit.

"We have to be creative and find the best way to reduce the cost without compromising on quality."

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