The singer’s complaint about the cost of seven prawns at a Cheras mamak sparks backlash as netizens defend the price as reasonable.
ORDERING seafood at a mamak or nasi kandar restaurant has always come at a premium, with dishes featuring prawns, squid or fish typically costing more than regular menu items.
However, a local singer recently found himself at the centre of an online debate after complaining about being charged RM10 for seven prawns at a mamak restaurant.
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In a Threads post, the singer called on the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Ministry to investigate what he believed was excessive pricing at a mamak restaurant in Cheras.
According to the post, he was charged RM10 for seven small prawns, which he felt was unreasonable.
His meal also included white rice (RM2), fried chicken (RM6) and an iced Milo (RM4.80), bringing the total bill to RM24.15 after the 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) was added.
Clearly frustrated, he wrote: “The pricing is crazy… I got charged RM10 for seven small prawns! When we told the staff that we’d be making a report, the cashier said, ‘Report, report lah!’”
He also claimed that he would be holding a press conference to address the matter, although it remains unclear whether it eventually took place.
Rather than sympathising with him, many netizens argued that the price was reasonable, pointing out that seafood prices have risen significantly and that prawns naturally shrink during cooking.
One user explained: “Twenty small raw prawns already cost around RM17. A kilogram costs about RM30. Once they’re cooked, they shrink to that size. Do you think you get only 50 prawns in a kilogram? And don’t they need to be cleaned? Don’t they need to be cooked?
“Prawns and squid are expensive right now. They may look like a lot when you buy them raw, but after they’re cooked, they become much smaller.”
Another user questioned whether the singer was familiar with current seafood prices, commenting: “Bro, have you ever bought prawns yourself? Please don’t embarrass the male population.”
Meanwhile, another netizen also felt the price was justified, writing: “I’m not related to the mamak owner or anything, but honestly, RM10 for seven prawns seems reasonable. Prawns are expensive. Besides, they shrink so much after they’re cooked.”
