KLANG: Popular pork rib herbal soup known as Bak Kut Teh is becoming a high-end meal, making it less affordable to the general public.

Due to surge in the price of pork, Bak Kut Teh operators in Klang, where the popular dish is originated, are finding it tough to maintain the business as a more expensive pork has sent their costs rising.

The price of pork has surged by 137 percent from RM750 per 100 kg in 2022 to RM1,780 per 100 kg now.

A Bak Kut Teh set for one person is now selling at a minimum price of RM18, excluding rice and beverages.

Tan Soon Wah, owner of Soon Seng Bak Kut Teh in Klang, said Bak Kut Teh is now a high-end meal for the general public.

“One used to be able to order a set with rice and drink costing less than RM20, but now a complete meal costs more than RM23,” he said.

Tan, 63, who has been selling Bak Kut Teh for 22 years, said a set of Bak Kut Teh used to cost RM10.50, but RM18 now.

A claypot of Bak Kut Teh was RM13, but the price has now surged to RM21.

“A pig’s trotters used to be RM13 a kg, and it is now selling at RM26 a kg,” he said.

To cope with the rising prices, Tan has tried to switch to frozen pork, but discovered that frozen pork is very different from fresh pork, and could risk his business.

Klang councilor Gan Eu Eng, 66, who loves Bak Kut Teh, said the price of the meal is tied to the price of pork.

“In the 70s, Bak Kut Teh was selling at RM2 per set. A Bak Kut Teh meal with rice and Chinese tea cost only RM2.80.

“However, for the past 10 years, the price of Bak Kut Teh gradually increased at the rate of RM1 per year,” he said.

Pork shortage in the market has resulted in surge in the price of pork, as many pig farms in Tanjung Sepat were closed owing to African Swine Fever (AFS).

Infected pigs were culled and farms were ordered to shut down in January.

Earlier, pigs in Perak, Penang and Sarawak were also down with AFS.