PETALING JAYA, April 18 — The heatwave since last month has seen traders and customers paying higher than usual prices for freshwater fish, vegetables and fruits.

Malay Mail also found that traders were also reluctant to sell freshwater fish because the prices had increased to a point where people are put off to buy them. This has led to decreased profit margins. 

Taman Tun Dr Ismail market fish vendor Ng Kean Wong, 43, said prices of freshwater fish had almost doubled since the hot weather.

“I used to sell 1kg of Tilapia fish for RM8 at the start of the year but now the price is about RM14. Catfish which I used to sell for RM3 per kg has now gone up to RM6,” said Ng, who has been working as a fishmonger for over 20 years.

Ng said the weather had played a significant role to influence the prices of freshwater fish.

“Due to the hot weather, our suppliers, who are farmers and breeders, are forced to increase the prices to ensure they do not suffer losses,” he said.

“Once the heatwave ends, the prices of fish should reduce.”

A fishmonger at SS2 market, who wanted to be identified as Ng, 60, said vendors were not willing to take the risk of selling freshwater fish.

“The supply price has increased and we are forced to sell them at a higher price to ensure a sufficient profit,” he said.

“According to my suppliers, many of the fish they breed have died during this period. I do not want to bring in freshwater fish as prices are too expensive and I know my customers would opt for sea water fish such as mackerel.”

Ng said he used to sell catfish at RM2.80 per kg, but now it has gone up to RM6.

Taman Tun Dr Ismail market fruit vendor Rajoo Peruma, 66, said he has no choice but to increase prices of fruits because of the heatwave. 

“Supplies from farms in Perlis and Kedah have decreased and I am forced to get my fruits from farms in Johor,” he added.

“Since the extreme weather, my highest grade of watermelons is RM3.50 per kg as compared to RM2 at the beginning of the year.”

Rajoo said farmers had informed him their produce was affected due to the heatwave.

Vegetable seller Tan Kai Hiong, 40, said prices of vegetables had increased by up to 20 per cent.

“At the start of the year, prices of bayam at my stall were RM6 per kg but now it is RM7 per kg. Kangkung was priced RM4.50 and is now priced at RM5.50 per kg,” he said. 

A housewife, who only wanted to be known as Faridah, 50, said she had been spending an extra RM20 for her weekly groceries. 

“The prices of vegetables and fruits have been on the rise over the last two months,” she said.

“My weekly grocery budget was about RM60, but now it has increased to RM80.”

Housewife Thilaga Manivanan, 57, said fruits in particular had seen a major price increase over the last three months.

“The price of lime has increased to RM16 per kg, an additional RM4 since the start of the year,” she said. 

“Watermelon's price has also increased by about RM1 over the last three to four months. That is an average of 25 sen increase each month.”