While many Malaysians were left shocked by exorbitant food prices at the recent F1 race in Sepang, some spectators had a very different experience.
A Threads post went viral after a visitor shared how a single lunch at the circuit cost RM130, which included a RM50 rice meal, a RM25 snack, a RM25 drink and a RM30 watermelon.
View on Threads
“Cheap prices wei!”
However, over at G Hillstand, food, drinks, and other essentials were a lot more affordable.
Threads user @hilmisaari shared photos of the food on sale there, with mineral water going for RM3, canned drinks for RM5, and local dishes like laksa and mee kari for around RM12.
View on Threads
Another user, @abang_crime, took to Threads to share that he would “definitely choose G Hillstand for any race in the future”, listing easier entry, a big screen, nearby toilets and “cheap prices!” as his reasons.
View on Threads
So why were the prices so different?
The answer may lie in how the food vendors there were brought in.
Around 40 local micro-entrepreneurs were brought into G Hillstand through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), led by Minister Steven Sim.
G Hillstand was also the Tiket MADANI zone, where all 10,000 RM200 tickets reserved for Malaysians were sold out a month before the race.
Under the normal commercial arrangement, an F&B vendor at G Hillstand would face a RM6,250 rental fee for three days, excluding SST, plus business licence fees and a 15% commission on gross sales.
The micro-entrepreneurs under the KUSKOP arrangement, however, only had to pay RM180 for their business licence, with no rental and no sales commission. Basic facilities such as tents, tables, chairs, chillers and fans were also provided.
One of the participating entrepreneurs, Terbelohaa, later wrote on Threads that the arrangement allowed her team to take part in a world-class event while still maintaining affordable selling prices, specifically thanking KUSKOP for providing the business space free of rental.
View on Threads
So while the complaints about expensive F1 food were very real, G Hillstand offered a more affordable side of the F1 experience, made possible through government initiatives — one that many Malaysians outside the zone may not have witnessed.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!
Also read: “This matter will be discussed with the Cabinet” – PMX Hints Malaysia Could Bring F1 Back To Sepang
