Prices up never go down...

GST: Greedy coffee shop owners told to stop cheating KUCHING: A number of coffee shops in the state that are not affected by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) raised prices of their drinks yesterday to fleece customers. Their acts were so sickening that Sarawak Federation of Coffee Shop and Restaurant Merchants’ Association chairman Hii Hung Yii and Sibu Coffee Shop and Restaurant Merchants’ Association chairman Tong Ing Kok saw it fit to issue verbal warnings. “Most coffee shop owners in Sarawak still maintain the same price as before the implementation of GST. There are, however, some who use the excuse of GST to raise prices on their own. “To those coffee shop owners whose turnover is not more than RM500,000 annually, I want to warn them not to do so as it is against the law. “They may be punished under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act if caught,” Hii told The Borneo Post yesterday. Sarawak Federation of Coffee Shop and Restaurant Merchants’ Association has more than 4,000 members across the state. Meanwhile, Tong was also fuming that some coffee shop owners in Sibu had also raised the prices of their drinks despite numerous warnings from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism (KPDNKK) and the association. “Coffee shops have been warned not to increase their prices within the first six months of the implementation of GST. “But some ignored the warnings. “What has GST got to do with them? What these unscrupulous traders are doing is bad for all of us and are tarnishing our image and reputation, especially their own. “What they are doing will not bring them any good. Customers will complain. The KPDNKK officers will also notice and conduct investigation on them. “At the end, they will be the ones in trouble,” said Tong. Tong said some coffee shops could charge GST because of the size of their business. For this category of coffee shops, the six per cent GST would be clearly stated on the receipts. “If a customer were to be told that a coffee shop charges GST, the customer must ask for a receipt. If the coffee shop cannot produce the receipt, it means the coffee shop is not paying GST. “I urge all our members not to cheat the people. Government officers are monitoring closely and at this time when the GST has just been implemented, everyone is on high alert. “The trick of these unscrupulous traders will definitely be exposed, and they will face the full force of the law.” said Tong.