The Malaysian School Canteen Operators Association said inadequate supply of raw materials such as eggs, sugar and cooking oil has affected the canteens’ operations.

Its president, Khairuddin Hamzah, who runs a school canteen in Semenyih, said the items on the school menus that have seen an increase in prices include roti canai, fried chicken and nasi lemak.

He said roti canai is being sold at RM1.50 compared with RM1 last year, and fried chicken costs RM1.50 and nasi lemak RM2, an increase of 50 sen.

However, prices are being maintained for other items such as fried noodles, fried rice and kuih.

Noting that school canteens are bound by regulations on the food and drinks that can be sold, Khairuddin said the shortage of eggs has left operators with fewer items that can be sold at affordable prices.

He also said nearly 50% of canteen operators have chosen not to continue their operations because of the spike in operating costs.

Based on the tender process that ended at the end of last year, more than 40% of current canteen operators are new, he said.

“There have been no new applicants (to run canteens) in many schools. There used to be more than 10 applicants in my school, but this time, there were only four,” he said.