Cabinet ministers have also come out to ask hawkers and stallholders not to increase their prices.
When airlines raise their ticket prices, when taxi fares go up, when car insurance premiums are increased, and when the price of petrol and cost of electricity are raised, I do not hear any of the ministers asking these large corporations not to initiate the price hikes.
There has been much debate recently on hawkers increasing their food prices and some are even said to be profiteering ('Govt to track hawker food prices'; March5 and 'Hawkers pledge to keep prices steady'; March 27).
Cabinet ministers have also come out to ask hawkers and stallholders not to increase their prices.
When airlines raise their ticket prices, when taxi fares go up, when car insurance premiums are increased, and when the price of petrol and cost of electricity are raised, I do not hear any of the ministers asking these large corporations not to initiate the price hikes.
At the end of the year, these large corporations end up with millions, if not billions, of dollars in profits.
The reason often cited by these companies for the price hikes is higher overheads and costs. Well, that is exactly the same reason used by the hawkers.
Profiteering is defined as someone who seeks exorbitant profits. If millions or billions of dollars are not exorbitant, I do not know what is.
The hawkers are merely trying to earn a few dollars more to cope with the higher costs of living and inflation.
Airlines and hotels charge more when it is peak season; taxis also charge more during peak periods.
Can a hawker charge more for a bowl of noodles during weekends and less on weekdays?
How about a drink stall charging more for a can of Coke on a hot day and less on a rainy day?
After all, the big boys are practising multiple pricing depending on demand, so hawkers should be allowed to do the same.
Let's not bark up the wrong tree. The ministers should take on the big boys and leave the poor haw-kers alone.
If the hawkers are indeed profiteering, very soon they will have no more customers.
James Wong
