Chevlyn Hwee Bin Ong: 4 ‘water-fish’ got cheated by Syed Bistro, Bangsar. Makan half way, the waiter gave us receipt. Half an hour later, he came to tell us air con charge is rm10.00 per hour. Looked around for notice on the charges, none. Negotiation success - RM10 waived.
Did This Restaurant In Bangsar Actually Charge Its Customers RM10 For Air-Con?
A restaurant in Bangsar drew public ire when a receipt showing a RM10 charge for air-conditioning went viral on social media
According to the original FB post, the customer had dined with three other patrons at a mamak restaurant in Lucky Gardens, Bangsar.
The post went viral earlier this week when netizens shared it across social media, with many accused the restaurant of taking advantage of the heatwave in addition to the GST charge.
However, in a twist of events, the restaurant claimed that the customer in question was already made aware of the air-con charge
According to a report from The Star Online, the restaurant’s management explained that the air-con charge is only applicable for customers who booked the restaurant’s executive dining room - the only air-conditioned area in the restaurant - for a specific event or privacy, and that the customer would be notified in advance.
The restaurant’s management also said that the RM10 charge was waived upon the customer’s request during payment
“For their exclusive usage of the air-conditioned room, we charged the customer a nominal fee of RM10 which he had requested to waive, and we did.
“We did a favour for the customer by just charging a nominal fee instead of a booking fee, which we waived in the end,” said the restaurant’s management to The Star, as quoted in The Malay Mail Online.
According to KPDNKK minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, it is not illegal for restaurants to impose such charges as long as it is communicated to customers beforehand
“Some restaurants have charges like that for customers who book a room for a specific event, and it is not against the law if it is communicated to customers,” said the Domestic Trade Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister.
The restaurant’s manager was also quoted to have said that it could be a billing mistake by an employee, but clarified that customers who don’t order anything before leaving will be charged for air-conditioning
Speaking to Free Malaysia Today, Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) chief activist Nadzim Johan said that people regularly walk into air-conditioned shops or restaurants especially with the ongoing heatwave.
However, he concedes that it is abnormal for a restaurant to charge for air conditioning.
“Restaurants should put up signs that they will charge customers for using the space if they do not order anything. It’s only fair if they do so and, legally, the customers cannot argue about this as well," he said.