KUALA LUMPUR: Consumers should check the prices of wet and dry foods at restaurants or eating outlets carefully, including estimating the total price before the purchase, said Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).
Its deputy president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said consumers could always report to the relevant authorities if they find the charges unreasonable.
He said price manipulation was not something new, particularly with wet goods, as the prices were often displayed in grammes instead of kilogrammes.
"It's a norm that we eat first and pay later, so much so that many people do not look at the price and often think that the price will not be much different at the restaurant that they regularly go.
"The issue of excessive charges should be a reminder for consumers to always get the price before they start their meals because the operators have played their part in displaying the prices, although the price maybe confusing as it is stated in gms instead of kgs," he told BH today.
Langkawi Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs department had initiated an investigation under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 after a group of tourists took to the social media complaining they paid RM1,196 for a sea bass at a restaurant in Langkawi.
Yusof said the pricing system at a majority of the restaurants was confusing to consumers and they may not be aware of the market price of certain types of fishes.
"A typical example is the catfish. Those who eat catfish regularly know that it is pricey but if they are willing to pay for it, that's their choice.
"If they feel that the price is unreasonable, they can lodge a complaint so that no one deliberately makes a profit."
He also said that consumers could cancel their orders if what was being served was different from what they ordered. But if the food came as what you ordered, it should not be cancelled."
Yusof said traders of food outlets should be transparent in displaying prices and tell customers the price before the food is served.
"Customers have the right to know the price before they proceed with their orders, also, the prices should be listed in gms and kgs, so that they know the price they have to pay beforehand and not when they get the bill," he said.