Eating out may cost more

GEORGE TOWN: Eating out may become costlier as hawkers are mulling increasing prices following the subsidy rationalisation for cooking oil from Tuesday.

Char koay teow seller Lee Seng Seng, 65, told theSun he was caught in a bind as people may be turned off if he increases his prices.

He also noted that people were tightening their belts in this uncertain economic period.

He may, however, have to increase prices by at least 10 sen to cover costs, including higher rentals, utilities and salary for his assistant.

“This is a bitter pill to swallow,” he said when met at the food court in Lorong Swatow here recently.

Chee cheong fun seller Ah Beng, 56, is also unhappy with the situation.

He said if the situation becomes unbearable, he would ncrease his prices by 10 sen.