A lok lok stall owner recently stirred debate online after asking if it was reasonable to charge customers RM0.20 for every bamboo skewer they break while eating. The question, posted in the Facebook legal advice group “法律与你同行,” was later deleted but had already drawn attention.
In his post, the stall owner explained: “Customers broke our lok lok skewers after eating. If we ask them to pay a damage fee of RM0.20 per stick, would that be unreasonable?”
Instead of receiving straight legal advice, netizens raised concerns about hygiene practices, questioning whether the skewers were meant to be reused. Some even joked that the post encouraged them to break skewers in the future to avoid potential reuse, while others demanded the stall’s location to avoid patronising it altogether.
One commenter offered a legal perspective, noting that businesses can request compensation if customers deliberately damage property. While a single skewer has minimal value, the fee could be justified if damage is intentional. The advice emphasised that any charge must be reasonable and proportionate to the actual loss.
The discussion highlights public sensitivity to hygiene and fairness in small food businesses, especially for items like reusable bamboo skewers.
