GEORGE TOWN: The increasing price of Hindu prayer items has not gone well among devotees especially from the B40 community, with the Penang Hindu Association (PHA) and Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) saying that the price of items had spiked up to 56%.
The associations said the increase was hurting the poor more than the rich.
"Deepavali was celebrated recently on the 12th and Hindus are now in the midst of preparing for another two major religious festivals, namely the Kantha Shasthi which is currently being observed until Nov 18, and Thaipusam, which will be celebrated on Jan 21, 2024.
"However, many devotees, especially those in the B40 category, are worried and upset to see a sudden increase in prices of many basic prayer items," said the associations in a joint statement on Wednesday (Nov 15).
The statement said although the issue of price increases of essential goods was recently brought to the attention of the relevant authorities by the PHA and the local media, many less fortunate Hindus were finding it financially difficult to fulfil their religious obligations due to the unrealistic price increases of prayer items.
In response to this increase, both the PHA and CAP said they jointly carried out a random price survey on prayer items at several retail shops in Penang.
The survey compared the prices of 18 basic Hindu prayer items with prices listed in November 2022.
Among the surveyed prayer items were camphor, garland, rosewater, jasmine fresh flowers (imported and local), dahlias, lotus, roses, balsamic resin (sambrani), incense sticks, betel leaves, betel nuts, coconuts, clay prayer lamps, vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil), prayer oil, shikakai (ayurvedic soap pod) and fresh milk (Dutch Lady brand).
The statement said the analysis of the prices of the prayer items between November 2022 and November 2023 showed a marked increase in the price for all the 18 items.
"The most significant increase was that for Vanaspati oil, which increased from RM89 to RM200 per 20kg tin, which is also equivalent to a staggering 56% increase.
"Betel nuts saw a 55% increase from RM10 to RM22 per kg while dahlias and betel leaves each saw a 50% increase in price," it said.
The statement said interviews with the retailers on the rationale of the price increase found that it was due to upcoming Hindu festivals.
The associations said they were concerned over the spiralling prices of prayer items and its effect on the devotees, especially those in the B40 group, as this group of people are left with no choices but to accept the unreasonable price increase in order to fulfil their religious duties.
The associations urged the Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry and the Prime Minister's Department to look into the complaints raised by the devotees and to act against the importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers for the unwarranted increase in the prices of the basic prayer items.
The PHA and CAP would also like to suggest to the relevant authorities to create a benchmark price for the prayer items in order to prevent unreasonable price increase during festive seasons in the future.
