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#NSTviral: RM50 roti canai at Osaka Expo sparks debate on prices

#NSTviral: RM50 roti canai at Osaka Expo sparks debate on prices

KUALA LUMPUR: An X post by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on the price of roti canai at the 2025 Osaka Expo has sparked an online debate over the prices of local items abroad.
A serving of roti canai, which is typically priced between RM1 and RM2, was priced at RM50 at the expo.
Tengku Zafrul's post was reposted on other social media platforms as netizens debated the issue.
While many were shocked, some netizens reasoned that the price was fair given the nature of the event.
"It looks bad at first glance but the price is fully justifiable. Stalls there have to pay extremely high rent, licensing fees, et cetera.
"Japanese wages are also much higher and many vendors fly in chefs for authenticity adding travel and accommodation expenses.
"It basically (encompasses) marketing, a cultural showcase and convenience.
"If they like the food, they'll hunt down the restaurant later and will eat at cheaper price if they want to. That's exactly what expos are for," Reddit user @dj_spinn3r said.
Meanwhile, user @dhurane shared their experience at the expo.
"Even a doner kebab sold near the outer ring was ¥2,480, equivalent (to about) RM70," the user said.
However, user @EmergencyAd3372 said that a typical roti canai seller in Osaka would definitely have lower prices.
In his X post several days ago, Tengku Zafrul said that 1,500 pieces of roti canai were sold each day despite the price with people queueing for two hours.
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