Impacts of the fuel price hike as reported HERE
Declining business following last month's steep fuel price hike has prompted the 20-odd pork sellers at the Lido Wet Market, Kota Kinabalu, to close shop on Mondays from tomorrow - July 7.
Chairman of the Lido Hawkers Association, James Chan, 50, said the number of customers was dwindling as consumers have cut down on food and fuel costs in order to control household spending.
He claimed the butchers were now operating at a loss. The price of pork had seen an increase twice in recent months.
"This is because on average, a domesticated pig weighing 100 kilos would cost RM890. We pay this amount to the supplier but we are unable to sell the whole quantity to recover our capital because of fewer buyers these days.
"We supply cheaply to restaurants whatever is unsold at the end of the day, so we can't make any profits.
"Therefore, rather than incurring more losses, we have decided to take a day's break for the first time," he told reporters.
The latest pork price hike was reported in the Chinese media on June 26 this year. "One kilo of lean pork now costs RM16, compared with RM14 previously, while a kilo of ribs costs as much as RM21.
"We have no choice but to raise the price, given our stall rental, transportation from the abattoir to the Lido Market and workers' wages.
"A few days ago, it was announced that the cost of feedmeal will also go up," Chan lamented.
According to him, pork butchers at the KK Central Market, Taman Foh Sang Market, Dah Yeh Villa Market, Donggongon Market, Inanam Market and Menggatal Market would follow suit in earmarking Monday as a rest day.
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