KUALA LUMPUR, February 5- The cost of preparing a set of ready-to-cook meals containing rice, vegetables and fried chicken is as much as RM5.68. Based on the estimated basic cost for the meal is 50 sen for a plate of rice, a small piece of chicken (RM1.25), bean sprouts (50 sen), coconut milk (80 sen), salt and turmeric (10 sen) and onions (10 cents). This makes the estimated cost without cooking is as much as RM3.25 and if taking into account the profit of 75 percent the total amount is RM5.68.
According to a trader who declined to be identified, among the things that also need to be taken into account are the cost of water, electricity, energy, gas, oil and manpower. “This is the most basic calculation because the price of food in each shop is different in terms of business location, the cost of raw materials and the cost of renting the shop,” he told Sinar Harian. The trader, who has a Diploma in Hospitality and Catering from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), said that with that number it is very difficult for traders to sell below the price of RM5.
Meanwhile, an owner of Kedai Nasi Lemak in Shah Alam, Rozana Harun, 52, said she was forced to stop selling the menu of nasi berlauk and switch to nasi lemak due to the increase in the price of raw materials which is still not stable. “I had to stop selling rice dishes with chicken or fish and vegetables because it was not profitable. “There are various costs that need to be taken into account before a food price is charged to customers. “Roughly speaking, the price of a plate of rice with chicken or fish and vegetables is RM10 and I have to sell it to customers for RM12.
“I don’t have the heart to charge such a price, so I stopped selling this side dish,” he said. He added that the cost of raw materials for the rice dish menu requires a high capital coupled with the difficulty of obtaining the ingredients. “In addition to the increase in the cost of raw materials, I also experienced difficulties in obtaining the materials. “For example, I had to go to several shops that sell chicken and vegetables to compare prices first. “The price of cucumber per kilogram is RM7 and the price of lime per kilogram is RM17 and there is a price increase there.
In addition, stocks of supplies such as eggs are also difficult to obtain,” he said. Rozana said, the net profit for selling the nasi lemak menu is higher than selling the nasi berlauk menu. “About RM1,000 in net profit that I earned by selling the nasi lemak menu compared to only RM200 when I prepared the nasi berlauk menu,” he commented. Meanwhile, Muhammad Khairul Fikri, 31, the owner of a restaurant in Kampar, Perak, said that the actual cost of the gepuk chicken dish he sells is very high. “The actual cost is around RM7 to RM9.
The price of chicken thighs that we use increased from RM20 to RM29 for a packet. “The menu that is sold also needs chillies and onions to be used as sambal. “However, the price of chillies and onions is now quite expensive so that it can reach RM9 per kilogram while chillies and onions are RM4 per kilogram,” he said. He added that the situation burdened him and it was impossible to lower the price of the food.
“Even though the government has recently announced the Rahmah Menu meal at a price of RM5, but as a food shop operator, it gives me some difficulty. “I sell ayam gepuk dish for RM12 a plate because I had to raise the cost of the selling price to cover other costs and the profit,” he said. Khairul said that the cost of raw materials such as chicken is too expensive, especially if it is bought by the kilo.
“If I buy by the kilo and not in bulk, then the price is more expensive. For two pieces of chicken thigh is RM10,” he commented. On Friday, the government announced the introduction of the Rahmah Menu, which is food at a price of RM5 and below specifically for the extreme poor. Starting Tuesday, people affected by the cost of living can enjoy food for RM5 at 15,000 premises nationwide.
It is in line with the launch of the government’s Menu Rahmah initiative which aims to ensure that the B40 group in particular can afford to buy food at a reasonable price. Minister of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said that through the initiative, it is hoped that there will be no more target groups who cannot afford to buy food.
