Variety of vegetarian choices at a stall in Taman Mutiara during the Nine emperor Gods Festival in bukit Mertajam. — Photos: ZhaFaraN NasIb/The star
A PLATE of vegetarian wan tan mee for RM10 when regular wan tan mee is about RM6 in Penang?
It may seem those who observed a vegetarian diet during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Penang were fleeced.
However, hawkers said preparing such meals were costlier.
For starters, vegetarian food sellers cannot use ready-made wan tan mee sauces as these contained garlic, said hawker Fanny Ng, 40.
Ng (right) says processed mock meat dishes cost more than meat.
“Raw ingredients to produce the spicy sauce cost over RM200 per kg and it is a lot of work preparing it.
“Vegetarian roast pork is processed and costs more than the meat,” she said at her stall in Taman Maju, Bukit Mertajam.
Devotees have to undergo a strict vegetarian diet during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, in which even the pots, pans and utensils should not have been used for cooking any meat.
Eggs, dairy products and pungent herbs like garlic, onion, chives and coriander are also not allowed in the food.
Ng, who operated the stall for 10 days during the festival, said rental of the space with a canopy, despite being basic, was another cost to be factored in.
“It costs over RM1,000 to rent this lot. The rental money goes to the temple that allocates the space.
“Any additional profit that we make would also be donated to the temple at the end of the festival,” she said.
Some premium vegetarian dishes that mimic the taste and texture of meats are costly. Vegetarian rice seller and cook Ong Beng Tian, 56, said the vegetarian versions of roast pork, roast goose and mutton are made with soy products such as beancurd.
Thing Guan showing the ice kacang and plate of rice with dishes costing him RM15 at the Taman Mutiara stalls.
He said his stall prepared between 50 and 60 types of vegetarian dishes daily for thousands of customers.
“Costs are kept low by cooking in large volumes, and I’ve been selling for over 30 years.
“All staff are volunteers and profits raised are channelled to a religious charitable organisation,” he said.
A check on food prices near Beng Tian’s stall in Taman Mutiara, Bukit Mertajam, showed that braised noodles were selling for RM8, vegetarian chicken at RM6.50, rojak pasembur at RM8 and rice porridge at RM6.
Retired insurance agent Ong Thing Guan, 54, from Simpang Ampat, has been buying food in Taman Mutiara daily since the start of the festival.
“Food here is cheap, about 10% cheaper than in previous years,” he said.
“Perhaps people complained and hence stalls are not over-charging now.
Loh (left) says her family spent about RM1,500 for the 10-day festival.
“A plate of rice with dishes hardly go beyond RM10 here, and desserts such as the Taiwanese ice kacang cost RM5, which would usually cost RM15 in shops,” said Thing Guan.
Jade Loh, 60, said although the prices of vegetarian meals were reasonable compared to ordinary food on usual days, they still added up when dining at the stalls daily.
“With three meals a day, it cost our family about RM1,500 for the 10-day festival.
“I believe some dishes are more expensive due to the ingredients requiring additional processing and they’re not common in the market,” she said.
Penang Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry director S. Jegan said although there were no complaints received throughout the festival, hawkers should not charge exorbitantly because doing so would violate Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“It is unfair to charge consumers excessively. Prices should remain reasonable and in line with market conditions.
“Under the Act, individuals or businesses found guilty of charging unfairly or profiteering can be fined up to RM100,000 or RM500,000 respectively, or jailed,” he said, urging hawkers to display prices of the food to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation of consumers.
