Penangites cry foul over food prices

RESIDENTS in parts of Penang are unhappy with recent price hikes by food traders ahead of polling day on Saturday, Kosmo! reported.

The daily reported that many businesses in Balik Pulau and other districts on the north-eastern part of the island had raised their prices significantly over the past two weeks.

Aina Adam, 38, said a plate of white rice would usually cost about RM2, or between RM6 and RM6.50 if served with meat.

“But now the price is RM9.50 a plate. Not only that, white rice served with fish curry and sambal belacan is now RM10.90 per plate,” she said.

Aina said local traders claimed that the rise in prices was because they had not received many customers involved in election campaigns, as well as more expensive ingredients.

> Singer Zaiton Sameon, who recently received a disability person’s (OKU) card, said she had been belittled and disparaged by some of her peers for her condition, Utusan Malaysia reported.

The 66-year-old said although she now seldom took up gigs and relied on proceeds from her rendang business, she was disheartened to learn that some of her peers had been telling event organisers that she could no longer sing.

“I am sad to be treated like this. However, I agree that this is the condition of life that I have to live with,” she said.

Zaiton said some organisers even tried to take advantage of her condition by not paying for her performance as they believed she had forgotten.

“They thought that I would forget about the payment, but I never forget,” she said.

Zaiton was involved in a tragic accident in 1990 at the height of her popularity.

The accident claimed the life of her 13-yearold son Azirwan Abu Bakar while she was seriously injured. She was in a coma for three months and had brain trauma that led to memory loss.