Remember the viral story about the RM20 fried turmeric chicken in Langkawi that had netizens in disbelief?
Well, the restaurant owner behind that controversy has now been fined RM10,000 by the Langkawi Sessions Court for failing to comply with trade regulations.
According to BuzzKini, it all began in January when a tourist visiting Pantai Chenang was shocked to find that their plate of fried turmeric chicken cost a whopping RM20.
The frustrated diner took to social media, sharing their experience in a post that quickly went viral. Many netizens criticised the price, calling it unreasonable.
The uproar caught the attention of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), prompting an investigation into the restaurant.
Stall owner fined RM10,000
The restaurant’s owner faced charges after it was discovered that she had failed to maintain proper records of her sales and purchases from January 2021 to November 2023.
Appearing in court on November 20, she was pleaded guilty to the charges. The court, presided over by Judge Allan Suman Pillai, imposed a fine of RM10,000.
To avoid a 12-month prison sentence, she paid the fine immediately.
She was charged under Section 53A(3) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, which mandates businesses to maintain proper sales and purchase records.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
The investigation revealed that she had not complied with an earlier directive issued under Section 21 of the same Act, which required her to provide invoices for her products.
What do you think of this case? Should vendors have more leeway to adjust their prices, or is this fine justified? Let us know your thoughts!
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