Every now and then, we would come across or hear of instances where customers get enraged after being charged an astronomical amount for a meal.
This time around, it involved a stall selling ‘gulai kambing’ (mutton curry) for a shocking RM150 in Changlun, Kedah, triggering an outpour of online criticism and an investigation by the auhorities.
M’sian angered over being charged RM150 for mutton curry
In a now-viral post shared to the Facebook group ORANG CHANGLUN SEMPOI on Jan 16, the OP asked netizens for their opinions regarding the stall and its food prices.
According to her, she was charged a whopping RM150 for mutton curry meant to feed three people, claiming that she was also charged RM19 for each piece of mutton.
“Residents of Changlun and the surrounding areas, may I ask if anyone has eaten at this shop? Are the prices really this outrageous?
“When we asked them to calculate the price of each item, they couldn’t do so and kept going around in circles,” she wrote.
The OP also questioned whether the stall owner purposely charged her RM150 for the mutton curry after finding out that she and her family came from KL.
Notorious for high prices
In the comment section, it seemed that the stall had long been known for its cutthroat prices as netizens shared their own unpleasant experiences.
‘It’s really expensive there. My family from Johor came in September and mentioned how expensive it was. We told them that even though we live in Changlun, we’ve never eaten there.’
‘I once ate rice with chicken, then packed three pieces to go. It cost me RM50 and left me speechless.’
Stall issued notice by authorities
The post eventually caught the attention of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) and several officers were sent to inspect the stall on Saturday (Jan 18), reported NST.
In a statement by KPDN Kedah director Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin, he said the inspection found that the stall had displayed a menu with price tags visible to customers.
However, the stall was hit with a written notice under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, as it was found that price tags were not shown on all dishes offered when the viral complaint was made.
Nizam added the stall owner was also given six days to provide details about the dishes’ cost and selling price.
He also warned traders not to charge customers exorbitantly and reminded customers to always check the prices before ordering.
Read more stories of customers being charged way more than usual here:
