LABUAN: Traders here may increase the prices of their food and drinks following the fuel price hike.
Based on a survey conducted by The Borneo Post yesterday, one of the restaurant operators here, Mohd Basheer Hamzah, said after the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration, a meeting organised by the Labuan Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, would be held with other restaurant operators to discuss prices in their eateries.
“After the meeting we might hold a meeting with the relevant authority here to see whether we can raise the prices of our food and drinks or not since prices of many of the items are already up such as flour and ice cubes.
“Previously, flour was around RM35 per sack (25 kilo), but now it is RM37,” he said, adding that at the moment, prices of their food and drinks were still being maintained.
Meanwhile, during a survey at a market here, one of the stall operators, Tamrin Abdul Aziz, said the price of his drinks was still being maintained at RM1.50 per cup.
When asked whether he would raise his price, he replied that it would depend on the current situation.
“In the last five years, there were several consecutive hikes in the price of flour, sugar and other items, but we still maintained our price. Normally, after a fuel price hike, prices of other items will increase, thus affecting our operation costs to run our small businesses,” he said.
Another stall operator, Roslya Bah, said her cakes were still sold at RM1 for three pieces.
“Prices of cooking oil, eggs and other things keep on increasing. Our businesses might not survive if we maintain the prices of our food and drinks,” she said.