The Malaysian Insight

PEOPLE in the Klang Valley are shopping around at the markets, supermarkets and even convenience stores to get more value for their grocery money.

With prices of vegetables going up as much as 200% over the last week, shoppers told The Malaysian Insight at the Chow Kit and Pudu wet markets that they have no choice but to look for bargains as almost every food item has gone up in price.

Though groceries now cost more, it is still cheaper to cook than to eat out,  especially for those with big families, they said.

Others said while they were spending the same amount of money but getting less.

Nizam, 38, said he shopped at the Chow Kit market for fresh meat and fish, but preferred to go elsewhere for vegetables.

“The only vegetables I buy here are ulam such as winged beans and ulam raja,” he said.

“For other vegetables, I try to look elsewhere – at the NSK supermarket or convenience stores near my house because they tend to be cheaper there.”

Nizam said now had to pay more for the same items.

“Prices of vegetables in the market and elsewhere can have a price difference of RM5. So I prefer to be a little more hardworking and look for better bargains elsewhere.

“Two weeks ago when I did my shopping here, I spent around RM50; today I had to fork out RM90 for the same things.”

Nizam has also opted to buy less for his family of four.

“Since we only cook for dinner and even then, some days we opt to eat out, we don’t stock up too much and buy things as and when we need them.”

Items that have gone up dramatically in price include broccoli and cauliflower, which are imported from China, and leafy green vegetables from Cameron Highlands.

Farmers have put the blame on a myriad of issues including the weather, labour shortage, higher farming costs, and supply chain issues..

At Chow Kit, broccoli and cauliflower were sold at RM16-17 per kg compared to RM6-7 previously.

These vegetables are costly now because of the winter season in China, which has depleted supply.

Kailan was being sold for RM13 per kg, French beans have gone up from RM6 to RM12-14 per kg and long beans now cost RM9 per kg from RM6 just three days ago.

Mahidin, 68, who lives in Kampung Baru, is a frequent visitor of the market.

Yesterday, he was shopping for the ingredients of sup tulang.

“Beef now costs RM71 for 2.5kg. Even coriander has gone up in price,” he said.

A check at the market showed the price of imported beef has dropped to RM20 from RM24 per kg.

Paying more for less

At Pudu market, shoppers complained that prices of goods have gone up.

Jayasri, 44, from Desa Petaling, visits the market for fresh meat.

Previously she was able to buy everything she needed for RM150; now she has to spend double for the same number of items.

“I just bought 1.5kg of mutton for RM57 and 1.5kg of chicken for RM37 and a few vegetables and I’ve spent RM143 out of the RM300 I brought with me today.

“These days I prefer to buy vegetables in bundles instead of the ones sold by weight. The bundle ones are much more affordable.”

A kilogram of chicken costs RM9.80 and mutton, RM34 per kg.

Jayasri, who was shopping for a family of three, said she was buying cheaper vegetables such as brinjal, carrot, tomatoes, and cabbage.

“Usually I buy my vegetables in NSK, but I came here today because I wanted to buy fresh mutton,” she said, adding that even in NSK, the prices of vegetables have gone up.

“Cucumber is now RM3.50 per kg and the quality is bad.”

Another shopper, Khadijah, 65, said she was paying more for less.

“I come here every two weeks and my budget is always RM300. after the prices went up, I still spend the same amount, but I don’t get as much product. 

“Birds eye chilli now cost RM20 per kg and I only bought RM7 worth of it because it is so expensive. The same for celery leaf, it used to be RM1 for a bundle now it’s double the price for less.”  – December 4, 2021.