By Shantini Mogan
30 JANUARY:The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) has called on the government to look into potential coconut price manipulation, with Thaipusam just two weeks away on February 11. Dr. Saravanan Thambirajah, president of the FOMCA, noted that the cost of coconuts has gone up from RM1.90 to RM2.50 per coconut this year.
He asked why there are frequently shortages and price increases for necessities around holidays like Christmas, Chinese New Year, Thaipusam, and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. As sacred offerings and a symbol of the shattering of one’s ego, coconuts are an essential component of Hindu ceremonies. In order to avoid shortages and price spikes during Thaipusam, Saravanan advocated for improved supply management, more stringent control, and early imports.In order to lessen dependency on imports and guarantee fair pricing, he also emphasized the necessity of a long-term food security plan.
N.V. Subbarow, a senior officer with the Consumers Association of Penang, pointed out that each year around Thaipusam, there are shortages of coconuts. Due to the widespread belief that cracking coconuts brings good fortune, he pointed out that both Chinese and Hindu devotees contribute to the high demand. According to reports, a big supplier that typically sells between 50,000 and 100,000 coconuts during Thaipusam is out of stock this year. Prices may increase to RM4 per coconut as a result of this shortage.
Subbarow expressed worries regarding the quality of the imported coconuts, pointing to instances where they were spoilt, even though they are being imported from Indonesia to help with the issue.He asked temples to suggest alternatives to breaking coconuts, such as serving bananas or allowing each devotee to break only one coconut.
