Summary

  • Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah criticises restaurants raising their service charges during Chinese New Year.

  • He warned it could set a trend for price increases during all festivals.

  • A restaurateur association said the hike serves as a tip for employees.

Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah expressed concern over restaurants increasing their service charges from 10 to 15 percent during Chinese New Year.

“Is this reasonable and allowed under the law? A precedent that is quite worrisome. Even though the workers are not local,” he said in a post on Facebook today.

“After this, all festivals will have a price increase,” he added on the post which included a notice by restaurant chain Oriental Kopi.

The notice read: “CNY service charge adjustment, first and second day of Chinese New Year (29/1 & 30/1)

“During CNY period, the dining service charge will be adjusted from 10 percent to 15 percent (excluding six percent SST)”.

Puah tagged Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh in his post.

Both Puah and Fuziah are PKR members.

Jimmy Puah

Meanwhile, the Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association confirmed its members will be increasing service charges by up to 15 percent.

Free Malaysia Today reported its president Wong Teu Hoon saying the increase was meant for those working on the first two days of Chinese New Year, in the form of a “tip”.

“Usually, most restaurants maintain the 10 percent service charge or do not operate on those two days," he said.

He said the association could not interfere with its members, who were free to impose service charges at their discretion.

“They have issued notices informing customers of the increase, so the public can choose whether to eat at their premises or not,” he added.