The past few weeks saw our little island under the deluge of torrential rains.So much so that,hawkers and restaurants saw a dip in their businesses.Some,like the pasar malam operators,decided to cut further losses by taking the drastic step of not opening at all for an extended period.
For now,the heavens seem to have granted us a temporary respite yet in so many places,crowds remain sparse even at popular makan places.
Tables completely laden with food and drinks have become a rarity and the business people only have themselves to blame.
The outrageously escalating prices on the total bill is what I would say is the main cause of this sad turn of events.
Those responsible for the hikes,seem to forget that the majority of their patrons are locals whose salary remains at a dismal level.Everytime the civil sector gets a raise or utilities and taxes rise,the burden is one that most operators inflate and unscrupulously pass on to us.
The way they are carrying on,is grave cause for concern.
If they think they can depend on tourists to sustain them,they are making a fatal mistake.
Unless they are only using it as a front for other more profittable enterprises or a way to legally launder ill gotten wealth.I can name a few places with practically no customers yet are still in up and running today but that would be broaching from the main topic.
Anyway,locals don't buy into their claims of a thousand and one catastrophic disasters such as the floods in thailand,since prices at our wet markets still remain ridiculously low and reasonable.
Chicken rice shop operators(one of the worst offenders in my opinion is Xing Nam Fatt in Fettes Park) have turned an economical meal into a bleed-you-dry experience.This particular shop,dares pile on the meats without you asking,slapping on an average of $7 per diner compared to his next door competitor who still maintains a price tag below $5.Not significant if you are still single but bad news for big families.
The worst part about it,is that the chickens that a lot of places are using is suspect as to whether they are Malaysian bred or imported from god knows what country.
Why would I even come up with this proposterous claim? Simply check the quality of the meat.The insides don't cook so well,they remain a bruised red and frankly,the most telling part lies in the taste.Things have become this bad in the span of just under a year.
To give you an idea of the gravity of the situation,choo char operators today charge an average of between $16 to $ 24 per pax.A shocking jump from the mid quarter of this year,when it cost just between $8 to $14 per head to eat out.
The way I see it,more families will eat out less and less.And when they do,they will be frugal and sparing with their orders.
Those that charge reasonably will see a spike,those that don't will suffer in the long run when patrons label eating out as an unneccessary and unaffordable luxury rather than a recreational pastime.
The whole comedy of it all,is that when we go over to the mainland,you get a larger portion for the beginning of this years price.
And maybe that could partly explain,the bridge jamming exodus fleeing the island every Friday evening.
Heck we still like to eat out,but not when it burns a miserable hole in our pocket on a daily basis.
Hawkers and restaurateurs should take this ominous sign of an alarming lack of customers ,as an urgent wake up call to stop their greedy profiteering ways or be prepared to pack up and leave the trade for good.
For now,the heavens seem to have granted us a temporary respite yet in so many places,crowds remain sparse even at popular makan places.
Tables completely laden with food and drinks have become a rarity and the business people only have themselves to blame.
The outrageously escalating prices on the total bill is what I would say is the main cause of this sad turn of events.
Those responsible for the hikes,seem to forget that the majority of their patrons are locals whose salary remains at a dismal level.Everytime the civil sector gets a raise or utilities and taxes rise,the burden is one that most operators inflate and unscrupulously pass on to us.
The way they are carrying on,is grave cause for concern.
If they think they can depend on tourists to sustain them,they are making a fatal mistake.
Unless they are only using it as a front for other more profittable enterprises or a way to legally launder ill gotten wealth.I can name a few places with practically no customers yet are still in up and running today but that would be broaching from the main topic.
Anyway,locals don't buy into their claims of a thousand and one catastrophic disasters such as the floods in thailand,since prices at our wet markets still remain ridiculously low and reasonable.
Chicken rice shop operators(one of the worst offenders in my opinion is Xing Nam Fatt in Fettes Park) have turned an economical meal into a bleed-you-dry experience.This particular shop,dares pile on the meats without you asking,slapping on an average of $7 per diner compared to his next door competitor who still maintains a price tag below $5.Not significant if you are still single but bad news for big families.
The worst part about it,is that the chickens that a lot of places are using is suspect as to whether they are Malaysian bred or imported from god knows what country.
Why would I even come up with this proposterous claim? Simply check the quality of the meat.The insides don't cook so well,they remain a bruised red and frankly,the most telling part lies in the taste.Things have become this bad in the span of just under a year.
To give you an idea of the gravity of the situation,choo char operators today charge an average of between $16 to $ 24 per pax.A shocking jump from the mid quarter of this year,when it cost just between $8 to $14 per head to eat out.
The way I see it,more families will eat out less and less.And when they do,they will be frugal and sparing with their orders.
Those that charge reasonably will see a spike,those that don't will suffer in the long run when patrons label eating out as an unneccessary and unaffordable luxury rather than a recreational pastime.
The whole comedy of it all,is that when we go over to the mainland,you get a larger portion for the beginning of this years price.
And maybe that could partly explain,the bridge jamming exodus fleeing the island every Friday evening.
Heck we still like to eat out,but not when it burns a miserable hole in our pocket on a daily basis.
Hawkers and restaurateurs should take this ominous sign of an alarming lack of customers ,as an urgent wake up call to stop their greedy profiteering ways or be prepared to pack up and leave the trade for good.
