Following the fiasco surrounding the ikan siakap dish worth RM1,196, another similar issue has gone viral on the internet this week.
It all started after a man took to his Facebook to vent about having to pay RM100 for two fresh sotong goreng (fried squid) dishes at a nasi kandar stall in Penang.
In the viral post, the netizen also shared a copy of the receipt, totalling RM106.60, from Penang’s oldest nasi kandar restaurant, Hameediyah Restaurant, located at Campbell Street. As seen in the receipt provided by the user, the price for two fresh fried squid was RM100, while a plate of Biryani rice costs RM4.50, white rice (RM1.50), two salted eggs (RM2), papadom (RM3) and cucumber (RM2).
The social media post has since gone viral, with many netizens expressing their outrage at the restaurant for its unreasonably high price of its sotong goreng dish. Though, it didn’t take too long before a representative from Hameediyah came forward to clear the air on the matter.
Speaking to Malaysian Gazette, Hameediyah Restaurant director Mohd Riyazz Syed Ibrahim stated that the customer had ordered a large-sized squid at the price set by the restaurant. Additionally, they also clarified that the price for each menu is also displayed on the board, apart from claiming that the customer ordered the dish without inquiring about the price.
“We bought the fresh squids at a hefty price; around RM35 to RM50 per kilo. We even displayed the price on the signboard. RM10 to RM150. The customers (one man and one woman) ordered the dish for takeaway. When the prices were entered and shown on the register, the customer did not say anything and when I told them the total price, they paid for it without complaining or rejecting,” he told the portal.
Following that, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Penang took action by issuing a Goods Information Verification Notice (NPMB) to the owner of the nasi kandar joint. Its director, Mohd Ridzuan Ab Ghapar, said the notice was issued in accordance with Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act (AKHAP) 2011.
“During the inspection, enforcement officers had recorded the conversations of traders on the contagious issue to aid further investigation. The restaurant owner must provide a notice response within two working days or latest by 26th November to the North-East Branch office,” Mohd Ridzuan revealed in his statement.
He also added that the restaurant operator could be subject to action according to AKHAP if they failed to submit the requested feedback. According to Mohd Ridzuan, failure to comply with the order is an offence under Section 21 (5), and can be penalised under Section 57 of AKHAP 2011.
Update (Thursday, 25th November, 5:30pm):
The customer who paid RM100 for the two pieces of fried squid has come forward to apologise to Hameediyah Restaurant for the misunderstanding caused by the previous statement she posted on social media. In the post shared on the food outlet’s FB, the anonymous woman revealed that she had visited the restaurant to buy food with her partner, and took two fried squid priced at RM50 each.
The woman said she only posted the photo of the receipt and the food in an Instagram post and did not put any caption or statement regarding the hefty price of the dish. She, however, claimed an individual had shared a screenshot of her post and reposted it on a Facebook page.
“I had no intention at all to make my post viral, but there was some other party that screenshot my post and purportedly tried to portray me as the one who complained about the price,” she explained. The woman concluded by expressing that with her clarification, hopefully the public will have a better understanding of the issue.
Sources: MalaysiaGazette, mStar, AWANI.
