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‘Vague pricing in eateries risks violating consumer law’

65% of Perlis padi cultivation zones ready for planting PUTRAJAYA: About 65% of padi cultivation areas under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) are now ready for the planting season, with farmers expected to begin sowing seeds after Aidiladha. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said water levels in padi fields and dams have improved following his visit to Perlis yesterday. “There is already water in the plots, and water levels at the dams have started to rise. I am confident they will be able to begin planting in the near future,” he said after launching the Kebuniti Agricultural Information Centre (Gardentopia), a rooftop community garden concept, yesterday. He was responding to a report that only 10% of about 56,000 padi farmers in Kedah, including in the Mada area, had begun planting, while the rest were delaying due to weather concerns. Mohamad said the caution among farmers was understandable due to unpredictable weather patterns that could affect yields. “Farmers want their crops to produce good yields. But I think there is sufficient water supply. “The weather conditions are difficult to predict. Sometimes rain is forecast in the morning, but it only comes at night. So we hope they will be able to start planting soon,” he said, adding that Mada was monitoring the situation. On rising operating costs, he said the government had taken note of the issue and continued to provide assistance, including for land preparation and agricultural inputs. Mohamad said Gardentopia reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening national food security through community participation, including civil servants and urban households. The initiative supports the Home Garden campaign under the slogan “Plant What We Eat, Eat What We Plant”, aimed at encouraging households to grow their own food. He said urban farming could help ease living costs and respond to global challenges, including food inflation, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty. Mohamad said Gardentopia also reflects the evolution of Malaysia’s agricultural development through six phases, beginning with the Buku Merah initiative in 1960, followed by Buku Hijau (1974), Bumi Hijau (2006), Pertanian Bandar (2014), Pembangunan Pertanian Komuniti (2021–2025), and the current phase, Pengukuhan dan Kemampanan Komuniti Pertanian (2026–2030), with an allocation of RM30 million. Located at Rooftop Podium 1, Wisma Tani, Gardentopia serves as a reference and training hub for edible garden farming, offering hands on learning and technical exposure for the public, especially in urban areas. – Bernama Chow said the biggest challenge ahead of the next general election was not merely the strength of political opponents, but also whether voters continued to believe Penang PH was capable of governing the state effectively. He added that Penang voters were mature enough to judge which political coalition had a proven track record in developing the state, attracting investments and employment opportunities, and maintaining political stability. “The people also know that Penang’s future cannot be gambled away through politics of hatred and division,” he said, while calling on party leaders and machinery to continue strengthening unity and the spirit of struggle within the coalition. He also said while Penang PH may not be able to control all external political factors, the coalition could ensure that it remained united, mature and focused on the public.

o Practice leaves diners vulnerable to unexpected charges, says Fomca

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Restaurants that display vague price ranges on menus without clearly stating the final cost may be misleading consumers and risking violations under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA 1999), the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said. The consumer group added that the growing practice of listing dishes such as fish head curry at “RM20-RM35” without explaining how the final price is determined leaves diners vulnerable to unexpected charges and undermines transparency in the food and beverage industry. Fomca CEO Saravanan Thambirajah said consumers have the right to know exactly how much they would be paying before placing an order. “Consumers have the right to know the exact price of a product or service before making a purchasing decision.” He said displaying a broad price range without specifying the basis of pricing could potentially breach provisions under the CPA 1999 relating to false or misleading representations. His remarks follow complaints from customers who claimed some eateries listed menu items at fluctuating prices, causing confusion as diners were unable to determine the actual amount they would be charged. One customer complained that restaurants should display fixed prices instead of estimated price ranges that vary according to market conditions. Saravanan said menus that display a price range prevent consumers from accurately estimating the final cost before ordering. “This becomes problematic when the final amount differs significantly from what the consumer reasonably expected. “Transparency is a fundamental principle in consumer protection, and pricing information should be clear, specific and easily understood.” He described situations in which diners GEORGE TOWN: Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) has begun preparations for the 16th general election (GE16), with the formation of three new subcommittees focusing on election manifesto, communications and mobilisation. Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the new leadership lineup reflected the coalition’s continued commitment to strengthening cooperation among its component parties while continuing to champion the people’s agenda. “Meanwhile, we also emphasise that close cooperation among component parties – DAP, PKR and Amanah – will continue to be strengthened to ensure the continuity of effective administration and sustainable development for Penang as a whole.” Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Saravanan called for stronger enforcement and monitoring of menu transparency, and compliance with existing price display regulations. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

continue listening more closely and sincerely to the public in order to resolve issues and maintain long-term political stability in the state. “With reference to the 2023 Unity Manifesto, Penang is proud that out of the 50 manifesto promises made, only three have yet to be fully implemented.” “As for the 17 manifesto pledges currently being implemented, the leadership remains committed to ensuring they continue smoothly and are carried out effectively.” The new leadership lineup also saw Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid appointed as deputy chairman under PKR’s quota, replacing PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar. Other key appointments include Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil, who retained his deputy chairman post, while Lim Hui Ying remained secretary. enforcement and monitoring of menu transparency, and compliance with existing price display regulations. He said complaints involving unclear pricing, hidden charges and discrepancies between displayed and final prices continue to surface from time to time. “Many consumers may choose not to lodge formal complaints due to the relatively small amounts involved, although collectively these practices could significantly affect consumer trust and confidence.” He added that consumers encountering misleading or unclear pricing practices are advised to lodge complaints with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. Saravanan said without formal complaints, authorities may not fully understand the extent of the issue in the market. He also encouraged consumers to seek clarification before placing orders, photograph menus or displayed prices as evidence, request detailed receipts and report cases to the National Consumer Complaints Centre for assistance and advice. “Transparent pricing benefits both consumers and businesses because it builds trust and prevents disputes.”

“Penang PH is confident that the new leadership will continue strengthening the state’s political stability, championing public welfare and ensuring the continuity of the reform agenda that has been outlined.” DAP and PKR each hold 11 positions in the new PH Penang committee lineup, while Amanah holds eight positions. “Politics today is moving in a very dynamic environment. What happens at the national level could change within a short period and directly affect states, including Penang,” he said after the Penang PH annual general meeting on Saturday. Chow emphasised that under such circumstances, Penang PH must continue strengthening the coalition internally by preserving unity among component parties, improving organisational discipline and empowering grassroots machinery. He added that the coalition must also only discover the actual price after the food has been served as unfair and lacking informed consent. “Consumers should never be placed in a situation in which they only discover the actual cost after consuming the food, as they effectively lose the opportunity to make a proper choice or reject the purchase.” He added that such practices could place psychological pressure on diners, especially families or groups, to pay despite feeling uncomfortable or misled. While acknowledging that seafood and fresh produce prices often fluctuate according to market conditions, he emphasised that businesses cannot use this as justification for vague pricing practices. He urged restaurants to adopt clearer pricing methods, including listing prices according to weight or portion size, displaying “market price” together with the current daily selling price, verbally informing customers before confirming orders, and updating printed or digital menus regularly. “The key principle is that consumers must know the exact price before agreeing to purchase the item.” Saravanan also called for stronger

Penang PH gears up for GE16 with new subcommittees