The ongoing monsoon season and upcoming Chinese New Year festivities have caused havoc on the prices of goods.

However, a check by The Star at PJ Old Town, SS2, Selayang and Pudu wet markets showed that the prices of vegetables, seafood and poultry vary according to the locations of the wet markets.

For example, the price of ikan kembung at PJ Old Town was RM20 per kilo while at SS2, it was RM25 per kilo.

At Selayang and Pudu markets, it was priced at RM14 and RM18 per kilo, respectively. (See chart for price comparison of more items)

Nordin Sharil, 61, is a regular visitor to the PJ Old Town wet market for more than 20 years now because it is relatively more affordable compared to other locations.

He said wet markets in more affluent neighbourhoods like SS2, Section 17 and Taman Tun Dr Ismail would most likely drive up prices, regardless of festive seasons.

“However, for markets like in PJ Old Town, which are frequented mostly by foreign workers or low income earners, the pri­ces are more reasonable,” said Nordin who works as a driver.

Market goers in SS2 also agreed that prices tend to go up closer to the Chinese New Year period.

“The wholesalers do increase the price a bit when nearing Chinese New Year,” said a seller who wanted to remain anonymous.

At the Selayang market, caterer Aziz Abdul Hamid, 64, who has been going to the market for 40 years, said the price increase was probably, due to the shortage of workers when many go on holiday.

“Before Chinese New Year, the prices are still okay but maybe because there are not enough workers during the holiday season, there are fewer goods and prices go up,” said Aziz.

A fishmonger in the Pudu market, who wished to be known as Sally, said she expects the prices to increase as the lunar new year draws closer.

Vegetable seller Siow Ah Him, 60, when approached at the same market, said his supply of vegetables was from local farmers and Thailand.

“But both Cameron Highlands and Thailand also have been experiencing bad weather so compared to last month, the prices have gone up,” he said.

A restaurant operator, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she prefers buying frozen fish as they are a little cheaper compared to fresh ones.

Seafood seller Chin Fatt, 40, said for the past few months, the prices were severely affected by the monsoon season and the high tide.

“When it rains heavily and the waves are high, fishermen can’t go out and so the catch is affected,” he said, adding that at one point the prices went up by nearly 70%.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by Hemananthani Sivanandam and Joash Ee De Silva

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