KOTA KINABALU: Canteen operators in institutions of higher learning (IPT) have been asked not to increase their food prices.

       Sabah West Coast Smart Consumers Association president David Chan (pic) said a survey carried out on canteen operators at universities and other higher learning institutes found that food prices had gone up by about 10% to 20%, affecting the majority of students who have now returned to campus.

       However, he said not all canteen operators had increased their prices despite higher operating costs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Chan said they hoped the government would consider working out a subsidy mechanism for canteen operators to maintain their food prices.

       “We believe that the increase in prices was due to higher cost of raw materials in the market such as chicken, eggs, oil and bread, which indirectly affects traders, especially at universities.

       “The Consumers Association recommends providing subsidies to university canteen operators so that the increase in the price of raw materials does not affect the price of food,” he said in a statement Saturday (April 16).

       He also urged the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the state government to find the best method to overcome the problem of rising food prices in canteens at educational institutions.

       On the issue of high airfares during the current festive season, Chan thanked Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong for stepping in to find the reason for the hike in flight tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak over the Hari Raya period.

       Dr Wee on Friday (April 16) ordered the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to investigate and find solutions on the high airfares in efforts to reduce prices.