Mamak food has long been considered as an affordable alternative when it comes to having a meal on a tight budget.
However, that may no longer be the case as operating and food costs rise to unprecedented levels due to the ongoing Iran coflict.
Costs see 10% to 30% increase
According to the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma), it said supply chain disruptions, soaring logistics costs, and prolonged global economic uncertainty has led to a 10% to 30% rise in prices for certain goods.
Its president, Mosin Abdul Razak, said this included raw ingredients like chicken, vegetables, certain imported ingredients, as well as goods like packaging and cooking gas.
“The increase varies according to the goods but averages at between 10% and 30%. We started seeing this trend in the middle of last year, and it has continued until now.
“We expect further rises in prices based on the current geopolitical landscape,” he told FMT.
May increase prices in the future
Despite the economic pressures, Mosin said most operators are doing their best to maintain prices and absorb the additional costs by optimising operations and reducing wastage.
He added operators are also looking for alternative suppliers offering better prices.
However, Mosin warned that prices may see a slight increase if economical pressures don’t ease soon, adding that it was “unavoidable”.
“I hope the government will look into introducing a mechanism to stabilise the price of raw ingredients as well as incentives for the food and beverage sector.
“Relevant agencies should also work towards strengthening the domestic supply chain while reducing reliance on imports.”
Price increase isn’t something new in the mamak scene, with a similar situation taking place in Johor in 2024:
