This comes in the wake of complaints from school canteen operators in Selangor who said they were forced to bear higher operating costs because of the rising prices of raw ingredients.

They said they had been unable to pass the higher costs to their customers as the prices had been fixed in their contracts.

“It’s not that the prices cannot be adjusted, but since this affects the parents and students, the education ministry needs to be involved,” Teo told FMT.

She said the education ministry had not been actively engaging canteen operators on the matter, adding that the issue could not be resolved without the ministry’s involvement.

“The ministry did not send any representative to attend the meeting of the parliamentary select committee on education on June 13. This is unprofessional and disappointing.”

Canteen operators have also called on the government to review the payment rates for the supplementary meal plan (RMT).

The RMT payment rate to operators currently stands at RM2.50 for each meal in Peninsular Malaysia and RM3 in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim agreed that food prices in canteens need to be adjusted but said the matter needs thorough discussion.

“In the long-term, the education ministry must assist canteen operators in obtaining locally produced ingredients to minimise costs. This will ensure the welfare of students as well as safeguard the interests of operators.”

Earlier today, education minister Radzi Jidin announced that the rent exemption for canteen operators and those renting premises in schools under the ministry had been extended for another six months, from July 1 to Dec 31.

He said the extension was being given after taking into account the current economic situation and the fact that these operators were still recovering from the impact of Covid-19.