Restaurant operators running out of cigarettes
PETALING JAYA: Restaurant operators are grumbling that dealers and agents have not been replenishing their cigarette stocks.
And this has come about because talk is rife that an increase in tobacco tax will be announced on Budget Day on Sept 30, with the price of a 20-stick pack going as high as RM8.50, compared with the present RM6.50.
T. Selva said he had not been getting stock at his restaurant for almost two weeks.
“The dealers refuse to come by any more because they say the price is going up. The authorities should take action as we are losing business while they try to make some quick money,” he said yesterday.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association secretary-general Muhammad Sha'ani said the authorities should track down those who were hoarding. “We do not condone such activities,” he said.
British American Tobacco corporate and regulatory affairs director James Blakelock said the pre-Budget speculation about higher tobacco taxes started three weeks earlier than usual this year but the company had increased production accordingly to meet demand.
-> Bah... only RM 8.50? Cheh... I was hoping for RM 10 or maybe higher...
PETALING JAYA: Restaurant operators are grumbling that dealers and agents have not been replenishing their cigarette stocks.
And this has come about because talk is rife that an increase in tobacco tax will be announced on Budget Day on Sept 30, with the price of a 20-stick pack going as high as RM8.50, compared with the present RM6.50.
T. Selva said he had not been getting stock at his restaurant for almost two weeks.
“The dealers refuse to come by any more because they say the price is going up. The authorities should take action as we are losing business while they try to make some quick money,” he said yesterday.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association secretary-general Muhammad Sha'ani said the authorities should track down those who were hoarding. “We do not condone such activities,” he said.
British American Tobacco corporate and regulatory affairs director James Blakelock said the pre-Budget speculation about higher tobacco taxes started three weeks earlier than usual this year but the company had increased production accordingly to meet demand.
-> Bah... only RM 8.50? Cheh... I was hoping for RM 10 or maybe higher...
