KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 -- Picture this: a nasi lemak bungkus, a slice of kuih lapis, a kuih seri muka, and a steaming cup of teh tarik. The perfect Malaysian breakfast, right?

But this everyday indulgence could soon cost more, with the prices of coconut milk (santan) and grated coconut (kelapa parut) surging.

Coconut milk is the heart and soul of almost every traditional Malay kuih, and alternatives like evaporated milk just don't cut it.

Yet with Malaysia grappling with a coconut supply crunch for over six months, hawkers and food caterers are preparing to raise prices.

Hawker Muhammad Syafiq bin Saifullizan, 25, said he will increase the price of his plain nasi lemak from RM3 to RM3.50 next month to cope with rising costs.

Syafiq, ...