Latest news with #Gobinath
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
F&B operators grappling with rising costs
PETALING JAYA: Food and beverage (F&B) prices in Malaysia continue to climb as businesses grapple with rising operational costs, policy changes and currency fluctuations. Speaking to theSun anonymously via WhatsApp, the owner of a restaurant in Shah Alam serving buffet meals admitted to raising some product prices due to higher operating costs. The restaurant, which has been running since 1982, also supplies products such as Vietnam spring rolls, Sarawakian kek lapis, tepung pelita, cakes and sambal to petrol station shops. 'The increase in operational costs are already being felt. There has also been a decline in customers, perhaps because they have started taking steps to save money.' She said recent tax changes had worsened their burden, forcing further price hikes. 'We genuinely want to focus on running our operations and increasing sales but instead, we find ourselves caught up with even more tax matters, with inflation worsening the situation. Industry and academic experts say the pressure is felt hardest by SMEs and startups, many of which are struggling to stay afloat. Malaysian Food and Beverage Executives Association deputy president Gobinath Selvanayagam said the recent spike in F&B prices is primarily due to surging food inflation, input costs and the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST). 'Malaysia's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.4% year-on-year in April 2025, while food prices increased by 2.3%. 'Additionally, the cost of eating out at places such as restaurants, cafes and hawker stalls, went up by 4.4% in May,' said Gobinath, citing CPI report data from the Statistic Department. The association observed that 30% to 35% of new F&B ventures shut down within 12 to18 months due to limited pricing power in a hyper-competitive market and poor capital planning, with digitalisation and eco-packaging further driving up costs. Gobinath said the SST revision expanded the tax net to areas such as logistics and rentals, with costs typically passed on to customers. 'To support the sector, the government should consider granting temporary SST relief for first-time entrepreneurs, cap delivery platform fees at 20% and establish shared kitchen hubs to lower entry costs.' Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia expert on economy, inflation and entrepreneurship Assoc Prof Dr Noor Azuan Hashim said Malaysia's strong growth momentum is expected to continue in the near term, with GDP projected to grow at 4.7% in 2025. 'Inflation, which eased to 1.8% in 2024, is projected to rise to 2.6% in 2025 due to the anticipated implementation of fuel subsidy reforms. 'A weak ringgit has raised the cost of imported ingredients such as meat, cheese and processed goods. Environmental disruptions such as El Nino are affecting local crop yields as well.' She said the minimum wage increase to RM1,700 in 2024 has added to operational costs while fixed costs such as rent and licensing fees have continued to put pressure on entrepreneurs. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan economist Prof Dr Datuk Nik Maheran Nik Muhammad said prices have also been driven up by disrupted supply chains, high fuel prices, SST on rentals as well as halal certification compliance costs. 'Startups cannot absorb price shocks like large corporations, which force them to either raise menu prices or shrink portions.' Nik Maheran said consumer behaviour is also changing due to price sensitivity, with many opting to cook at home or shift to cheaper alternatives. She added that climate-related disruptions have worsened supply consistency. 'Businesses are also under pressure to adopt eco-friendly packaging, which drives up costs further.' She advised startups to digitalise operations, join cooperatives for bulk purchasing and seek training support from government agencies.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Thug Life' director Mani Ratnam on why Tamil cinema hasn't crossed Rs 1000 crore: 'Are we making films just to earn big money?'
Visionary filmmaker has opened up on why Tamil cinema is yet to deliver a Rs 1000 crore box office blockbuster. In a recent interview with YouTube channel Gobinath, the 'Thug Life' director reflected on the increasing obsession with box office numbers and its impact on the industry's creative spirit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'It's about good films, not just high collections' When asked why Tamil cinema hasn't reached the Rs 1000 crore benchmark like some big-ticket Hindi or pan-Indian films, Mani Ratnam offered a thoughtful response. 'Are we making films solely to chase big box office returns, or are we trying to create something authentic and, at least to some extent, a truly good film?' he asked, adding that earlier, the conversation was about whether a movie was good, bad, or average — but now the focus is heavily on box office collections. Thug Life' Press Conference | Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, AR Rahman Reveal Big 2025 Plans The director acknowledged concerns that such commercial pressures could stifle creativity and said he hopes this won't happen in the future. 'Thug Life': Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's high-stakes gangster saga Mani Ratnam's upcoming gangster action film 'Thug Life' is slated to release on June 5, 2025. The much-anticipated film stars Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR in the lead roles as father and foster son, weaving a gritty tale of power, betrayal, and vengeance. Plot and cast The story follows Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker (Kamal Haasan), an aging gangster presumed dead, whose disappearance elevates his adopted son Amaran (Silambarasan) to the head of the mafia. But Sakthivel's return triggers a deadly game to reclaim his legacy and confront the tangled destinies of father and son. 'Thug Life' boasts an ensemble cast featuring Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Pankaj Tripathi. Meanwhile, Mani Ratnam's previous outing was the epic drama movie 'Ponniyin Selvan 2'.
Pink Villa
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Mani Ratnam on Tamil cinema not having Rs 1000 crore box office hit: ‘Why are we making films…'
Mani Ratnam was recently asked about his view on why Tamil cinema hasn't hit the Rs 1000 crore benchmark at the box office. During an interview with YouTube channel Gobinath, the filmmaker responded, 'Why are we making films? Is it just because we want to make a high-yielding movie or a film that is authentic and, to an extent, a good film? Initially, it used to be whether a movie was good, bad, or just average, but now it goes too much into collections and all.' Upon being questioned whether such boundaries would kill creativity, the director hoped that it would not happen in the days to come. Mani Ratnam is currently busy with interviews, owing to the release of his movie Thug Life. The gangster actioner slated to release on June 5, 2025, features Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR in lead roles, playing father and foster son. The movie co-penned by Haasan and Ratnam features the tale of Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker, an aging gangster who is presumed to be dead. In his eyes, suspicions of his death led to his adopted son, Amaran, who has now become the head of his mafia gang. With vengeance in his mind, Sakthivel decides to lead himself on a game of death to vanquish Amaran, highlighting how their destinies were always intertwined. As Haasan and STR play the leading roles, the movie features an ensemble cast of actors like Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, and many more in key roles. The makers of Thug Life recently attended the film's audio launch event. With the entire album composed by AR Rahman being unveiled, most netizens took notice of how one song was crooned by Shruti Haasan. Check out the Thug Life album: Coming to Mani Ratnam's work front, the legendary director was last seen helming the project Ponniyin Selvan I and II, which released in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
