School canteen operators are bound by prices in contract

01/01/2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Operators of school canteens are disallowed from raising prices of food and drinks indiscriminately when the new school session begins next week following the rise in the price of sugar, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said today. He said the operators had to adhere to the prices stated in their contracts when they signed up to operate the canteens.

“I understand that they have to display the prices. I ask the head teachers to enforce the terms of the contract and not let any operator take advantage of the situation (to raise prices),” he told a news conference after opening a 1Malaysia youth forum, here.

Dr Wee also said that the rise in the price of sugar was probably a blessing in disguise because the people could now consume less sugar to safeguard their health.

The government raised the price of sugar by 20 per kg to RM1.65 in the peninsula and RM1.75 in Sabah and Sarawak effective today, citing a rise in the price of raw sugar in the world market as the reason for doing so.

However, the government’s subsidy of 80 sen per kg for the commodity remains.

BERNAMA

‘School canteen operators cannot raise food prices’

01/01/2010

By TEH ENG HOCK

KUALA LUMPUR: School canteen operators cannot raise the prices of their food and drinks although the price of sugar has gone up.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the price of foodstuff had been fixed when operators submitted their tender to operate in schools.

“The canteen has to display the prices of food, and the school must ensure that the price displayed is the same as the price list the operator submitted during the tendering process.

“The operators have signed an agreement and we will stick to the contract,” he said.

Asked if appeals for a price review by operators would be entertained, Dr Wee said the issue did not arise as they had to honour their agreement.

“I urge all canteen operators to not take advantage of the sugar price hike to raise prices, especially of food. Alternatively, they can reduce the amount of sugar used, which is also a healthier practice,” he said.

On another matter, Dr Wee said the Education Ministry had to slash subsidies to students after its operating budget was cut by 20%.

In the past, financial assistance to schools, including the tuition assistance scheme and school food scheme, cost the government about RM3bil annually.

“Most of the budget goes to emolument. The salaries of teachers cannot be cut, so the subsidy component has to be reduced. The allocation for the tuition assistance had been slashed significantly, while the budget for the school food scheme had also been reduced.

“Other components, like the school milk programme, had not been implemented since 2008,” he said.

Dr Wee said the programmes would be streamlined under the e-Kasih system to ensure that only those that are underprivileged qualify for assistance.

He said some 700,000 pupils were recipients under the school food programme but many refused to eat as they were picky-eaters.

“If they are really poor and in need of assistance, they won’t be choosy about their food,” he said, adding that there were no plans to abolish financial assistance programmes.

He said the school milk programme had been put on hold indefinitely due to hygiene issues, which had resulted in pupils suffering food poisoning.