On the 27th of September 2011, a forum posting on citizen news website Stomp which accused a hawker of charging $12 for two egg roti pratas was removed by the website. The poster named “Royal” criticised the Old Satay Club Mee Goreng stall at the Gluttons Bay food centre at the Esplanade saying the prices “increased exorbitantly” during the recent F1 season. The food court is located within the race circuit. Old pictures of the roti prata were also posted. The food court management’s investigation showed no such meals at that price were served during that period. Stall owner Mohamad Hussin said his usual two pieces of plain prata with chicken and curry was sold as a set for $5 during those three F1 race days and egg versions was not offered then. Such set meals have been offered over the last four years during the F1 season and the organisers are aware of these promotions at various eateries in the circuit.
When Gluttons Bay management asked for verifications if the website can substantiate the claims, Stomp’s editor Chew V Ming, offered to remove the posting but said that roti pratas with chicken and curry “being sold at two for $5, both of which we understand are much higher than normal prices. We therefore believe that the Stomp story was justified.” Mohamad Hussin normally sells it for $4 in his downtown stall. A check with prata stalls in the Jalan Kayu and Upper Thomson area shows that two plain pratas with chicken and curry cost about $4.
“The accusations on the website were baseless as we don’t even offer egg pratas during the F1 period. I found the whole thing rather annoying, but my conscience is clear and so I will just let the matter rest. Thankfully, my business is not affected,” says Mohamad Hussin.
KF Seetoh, founder of Makansutra whose F&B arm manages the Gluttons Bay food court had said that he will personally “crucify” any hawker that overcharges incessantly, but in this case, he comments, “ I think the writer should not harm the hawker with his mighty pen if it’s unsubstantiated. The hawker’s rice bowl is in his hands if he became virulent and went viral with it. There are many impressionistic minds on the internet and writers should be mindful of the power they wield.”
Mohamad Hussin, stall owner of the Old Satay Club Mee Goreng stall at Makansutra Glutton’s Bay.
