The traders said they were aware of complaints by customers but were left with no choice.

Abd Aziz Kamarudin, 36, who runs a stall at the Sungai Penchala Ramadan bazaar, said the increase in the cost of ingredients had impacted traders who were unable to maintain their old prices.

“We know many people are complaining that the food at the bazaar is expensive, but our old customers understand that we are running a business, and if we maintain our old prices, we will make a loss. This year we have to raise the price between RM1 and RM2.

“There is nothing we can do even if customers say it’s expensive, sometimes when there is a shortage of ingredients, prices will soar,” he told FMT.

Another trader in Sungai Penchala, Ramlah Abdullah, 59, said the number of visitors to the Ramadan bazaar had decreased compared to previous years.

Ramlah, who has been running her food business for more than 20 years, said people were more prudent in their spending as a result of the high cost of living.

“It’s hard for us to make a decent profit. In the past, with RM300 we could buy many things, but now even with RM500, we still need to be thrifty and buy what we need.

“Those who come to the bazaar now mostly come for the atmosphere, when they look at the prices, they think twice before they buy anything,” she said.

Nabila Bahrin, 30, a visitor at the bazaar, said she was aware that a hike in the cost of ingredients had forced traders to increase their prices, but some had raised their prices excessively.

“We know the ingredients are expensive, if they increase RM1 or RM2, we will still buy, but sometimes the increase doesn’t make sense.

“Recently, I bought a piece of murtabak for RM4, but some are selling it for RM10,” she said.

A housewife, who wanted to be known only as Nurdini, 36, said consumers must make smart choices because not all traders had increased their prices.

“I’ve been to several bazaars and I noticed some are more expensive compared to the one at Sungai Penchala. As consumers, if we want to save money, we need to make smart choices,” she said.