Its president Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said this after a meeting with the domestic trade and cost of living ministry today.

He said previous media reports quoting Johor Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association secretary Hussein Ibrahim had misquoted him, causing a misunderstanding.

“In our discussion with the ministry, we confirmed that mamak restaurants in Johor and other states will not see any price hike in the near future.

“The (original) report may have missed the mark because the phone call (with Hussein that it quoted) was made when he was driving. He is not a restaurant owner either, but serves as the association’s secretary,” he told FMT.

Jawahar said the meeting with the ministry’s enforcement deputy director-general (operations) Shamsul Nizam Khalil lasted 30 minutes and was also attended by Presma’s lawyer Habizan Habeeb Rahman and Johor Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association treasurer Ajim Nasir Khan.

Earlier, it was reported that around 300 mamak restaurant owners in Johor were expected to implement a minimum 5% increase in food prices starting next year due to rising operational costs.

Hussein had reportedly attributed the price hike to higher raw material costs and the upcoming RM1,700 minimum wage, set to take effect next February.

Yesterday, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said a notice to summon the association had been issued under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to explain the proposed price hike.

Meanwhile, Jawahar said Presma would not collude with any restaurant under the association to raise prices or use the increased minimum wage as an excuse to raise prices.

Hussein has refused to make any further comments on the issue.