Malaysian eateries dish up 'economy meals' as inflation bites

Administration clerk Muhammad Faizal Taib said he struggled in the past two years to get by on his monthly budget of RM250 (S$78) for food. But that changed recently, with some food operators now offering "economy meals" for as little as RM3.50 a plate.

"It's just a simple dish of rice, some vegetables and protein but it's enough to make me full without burning a hole in my pocket," he told The Straits Times.

Mr Faizal is among those who have turned to budget meals offered by some restaurant and cafeteria operators, which have decided to help consumers alleviate the burden of food inflation.

In June, the country's inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, increased 3.4 per cent from a year earlier. This has been led by rising food prices. The price of groceries for home-cooked meals rose 6.1 per cent, while the cost of dining out has gone up by 6.6 per cent, government data released last Friday showed.

Among the staples with the highest price spikes were roti canai (10.5 per cent), rice with side dishes (9.7 per cent), cooked beef (7.8 per cent) and noodle dishes (7 per cent), the report said.

Despite the rising cost of raw materials, a restaurant in Selangor decided to introduce nasi inflasi (inflation rice) to help patrons cushion the blow.

Priced at RM5, the meal consists of rice, vegetables, egg, sardine sambal and a glass of lemonade.

"Years ago, we offered nasi bujang (economy rice) at our sister restaurant, which we closed just before Covid-19. It was a hit," said Mr Iskandar Azaman, owner of Skohns Canteen, a cafe selling Western set meals and Malay rice meals.

"Now, with rising prices affecting a large section of the population, we thought it should make a comeback - but better. So we came up with nasi inflasi," he said.

The normal nasi bujang - typically rice, plain soup and a single egg omelette - is not good enough, he added.

"It shouldn't look like you didn't have enough ingredients to make a meal, so we came up with an upgraded version - rice, sambal sardine, a fried egg, some sliced cucumber and a glass of lemonade.

"It is a wholesome, complete meal. You've got carbs, protein, some vegetables, and it's something you are happy to order, not because it's cheap and you don't have money," Mr Iskandar said.

Echoing the sentiment, restaurant owner Jaizah Jaafar said: "People need food and we want business, so we have to meet them halfway. At the rate that we're going, it's good enough if we are able to survive after paying for our commitments," she said.

Cafeteria operators at public institutions of higher learning have also expressed their willingness to provide struggling students with economy meals priced at RM3.50, under a government initiative announced earlier this month that would give them a six-month rental waiver.

Ms Norlina Johari, who operates a university cafeteria in Sungai Buloh, said it is offering students complete meals consisting of rice, chicken and vegetables for about RM3.50.

"We understand that not all students like chicken breast, but that is the only part we can offer at a low price," she was quoted as saying by news site New Straits Times Online.

Some food operators said their suppliers gave them discounts on raw ingredients upon learning about their plans to offer budget meals.

Mr Iskandar said he adjusted portions on the economy set to break even. "But we're also not losing money," he added.

Other than economy meals, his restaurant has also offered "suspended meals" since 2014 - an arrangement where diners pay in advance for others in need to request a meal later.

"People who need food can just drop by and have a meal," he said, adding that about 1,000 meals have been claimed so far.

"We've had refugee families dropping by to have dinner. We've had a single mum having a small family birthday for her kid, all using suspended meals, which they wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise," he said. "So it's not just feeding hunger. It's also to lift the spirits a little bit."