Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Make certain that you have sufficient cash on hand before you dine. In a recent incident, a Malaysian family was charged RM1,260 after dining at a food court in JB. Startled by the high cost, Ekin, the wife, took to social media (now taken down) to voice her discontent.
Voicing her concerns, Ekin asked JB locals if they had ever encountered such prices. “Are there any Johor Bahru people here? I want to ask if the prices at this Tepian Tebrau food court are really like this?” she questioned.
What makes it even more baffling is the receipt. Similar to that of a doctor’s note, the contents of the receipt were illegible to Ekin and anyone who tried to read it. The only legible aspect was the pricing of the dishes, which varied from RM30 to RM224.
“The best thing about the receipt? We can’t even read it after trying for the 100th time. They look just like a doctor’s handwriting,” Ekin sarcastically commented.
She also shared a video featuring the restaurant’s pricing displayed on the wall. While panning the camera towards the seafood items charged as “according to market prices” Ekin asked, “Is RM1,260 for a seafood dinner normal now?”
Malaysian hawker stall owner passes away after tragically falling into boiling oil
This viral incident, which gained over 70k views on Facebook before it was taken down, sparked a debate among locals regarding the overpriced meal. Most of these individuals weren’t surprised, as they had previously dined at this establishment and noted that it frequently targets Singaporean customers, which could explain the elevated pricing.
According to The Star, the Johor Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KDPN) has launched an investigation regarding this matter. The director, Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, commented that the restaurant owner could be compounded if the food prices aren’t displayed.
Lilis also noted that if there’s a discrepancy between the displayed price and the charged price, it constitutes an offence. Any attempt to engage in profiteering will be subject to investigation, and if proven guilty, may result in a fine of RM100,000 or a maximum imprisonment of 3 years, or potentially both penalties.
Johor Bahru’s mayor, Datuk Noorazam Osman, mentioned that the city council could initiate actions against the restaurant owners in accordance with the recommendation from the Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
He stated, “If the ministry issues such an order, we have the authority to revoke their operating license.”
No taugeh in your CKT? This Bukit Panjang hawker will fine you 50 cents!
