First RM2.50 'roti telur', now RM20 for five pieces of okra

Burhan holding up the receipt stating the RM20 okra and its photo on social media.

BUKIT JAMBUL: A popular nasi kandar restaurant in Bukit Jambul, Penang was again raided by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, this time for allegedly charging a customer RM20 for five pieces of okra (lady's finger).

The ministry's state deputy enforcement chief, Chin Ching Chung, when contacted today said a team of officers were sent to the restaurant to conduct checks after receiving complaints from a customer.

According to the complaint, the customer claimed that the restaurant had charged RM20 for five pieces of okra and an image of the receipt went viral as soon as it was uploaded on social media.

The ministry subsequently issued a notice to the restaurant owner under Section 21 of the Price Control Act and Anti-Profiteering 2011.

The restaurant was given three days to provide the ministry with a valid reason before actions were taken.

This was the same restaurant which was raided by the ministry for charging RM2.50 for a 'roti telur', as reportedly recently.

Meanwhile, in his explanation, restaurant manager Burhan Mohamed said the incident was caused by a technical error made by the cashier on the day involved.

Burhan said the price was only supposed to be RM2, not RM20 as displayed on the customer's receipt.

He said such mistakes hardly took place and he apologised to the customer. He also requested for the customer to meet him to rectify the matter.

Burhan added that he never intended to cause problems for the customer and hoped that such incidents would not repeat.

As for the 'roti telur' issue, Burhan stressed that the price was reasonable with the services provided by the restaurant.

"It's reasonable because our restaurant is fully air-conditioned and the price is inclusive of tax," he said.

On May 23, it was reported that the nasi kandar joint was raided by the ministry after receiving complaints that customers were charged RM2.50 for a 'roti telur' as compared to its original price of RM1.80 before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented on April 1.

Less than 48 hours later, the same restaurant was again raided for the okra incident.