PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Mimcoin) has refuted allegations that Indian Muslim restaurants did not reduce their food prices, despite the zero-rated Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"We would like to categorically deny these baseless allegations. Our own check with members has shown that there is no truth to these allegations.

"We regret that once again, Indian Muslim minorities in this country have been made to be convenient scapegoats by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry," its president Datuk Syed Jamarulkhan Kadir said during a press conference on Wednesday (July 18).

Syed was responding to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who claimed that 30% of Indian-Muslim restaurants have not reduced their prices despite the zero-rated GST, which was implemented on June 1.

He lamented Saifuddin's actions for singling out the community, adding that the image of the community have been tarnished.

Syed said this was "racist" and it made it seem that the Indian Muslim community was dishonest in doing business.

"Every consumer knows that the cheapest food that they can get in Malaysia is Indian Muslim food. Can you show me food cheaper than Indian Muslim?," he said.

He pointed out that Indian Muslim restaurants only make up a total of 10% of all food operation outlets in the country.

Syed also said that there might be some culprits who did reduce prices in keeping with the scrapping of GST, but the Ministry should not generalise everyone in the community.

"We are supportive of the government's efforts to bring down the price of food post-GST and are willing to work with the Ministry to ensure this," he said.

He also said that the implementation of Sales and Services Tax (SST) on September 1 will not affect the price of food.

He said that prices will revert back to the period before GST was removed on June 1.