Normal to charge Chinese New Year tax, says sushi shop - But question is if it is legal to do so

'We have no intention of cheating our customers; we are Buddhists,' it says, stating that prices of veggies go up during the festive season. ( But question is if it is legal to do so )

 

 

 

 

GEORGE TOWN: A sushi restaurant which charged a 10% “CNY tax” here during the recent Chinese New Year holidays said it was “normal” for eateries to impose a surcharge to offset the rise in food prices during festive periods.( Is it legal or not )

Speaking to FMT, the spokesperson said she was no different from other restaurants, which similarly imposed surcharges on the final bill.
“Do you know that most restaurants impose a 10% tax during Chinese New Year? This is because prices of vegetable go up during CNY. ( Then if the vegetales are expensive then donot sell or open restuarnt for business or 10% surcharge is to make extra money )
“A notice was placed at the cashier counter for our customers to see.
“We have done that on Facebook, too.
“We have no intention of cheating our customers; we are Buddhists,” the spokesperson said.

When asked if she could have called the “tax” a surcharge, the spokesperson said: “Yeah, maybe next CNY, we will call it a surcharge. And also put it on the front door as you suggested.”
Recently, a woman complained to FMT saying her bill for six people was levied a “10% CNY tax”, on top of a 10% service charge and 6% GST.
She said she was only aware of the “tax” when she got her receipt.
Later, she found out that the tax was only applicable from Jan 27 to Feb 2. But she had gone to the restaurant on Feb 3.

 

She later contacted the restaurant to ask for a refund of the tax paid, which came up to almost RM20.
The restaurant agreed and apologised, citing “error” in the point-of-sale system.
The Consumers Association of Penang had called the CNY tax “likely illegal

 

 

Comments

 

What is the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs going to do about this as not only this resturants but all Chinese resturants , hair dress saloons and other business having been doing this extra 10% surcharge from day one. Best solution take them to court and calculate the years he resturant , hair saloon or other businesses have been operating multiply the days in a year it charges 10% surcharge multiply ( Average days taking from the 10% surcharge days divide by 10 equal to 10% ) is the extra 10% the businesses have been charging the consumers 10% extra surcharge and fine them by multiplying by 100 times. This will teach theses businesses that there is still Law in Malaysia ) because when the pig hair brushes issue came out , the ministry raided the business almost immediately

 

 

Let see if the minstry walks the talk or are going back to sleep again because the consumers have suffered enough