Govt stepped in to ensure stability of chicken price, says Nanta

PUTRAJAYA: The government’s intervention in setting the ceiling price for standard chicken at RM8.90 until June 5 is to maintain stability in the prices of chicken and related food, says Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (pic).

He said if the government had not done so, the retail price of chicken would have exceeded RM10 per kg following a 70% increase in the cost of poultry farming.

"The National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) special meeting on the food production industry on Monday (Jan 31) was briefed on the impact of the sharp increase in feed costs (corn and soybean) on the chicken and egg industry.

"Following the increase in production cost, the industry submitted (A request) to the government to increase the ceiling price,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 2).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced on Monday after chairing the Naccol meeting that the maximum retail price for standard chicken would be reduced by 20 sen to RM8.90 from the previous fixed ceiling price of RM9.10.

The ceiling price of chicken for Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak would be determined based on location,.Nanta said.

He added that this was the third time the price of chicken had been reduced.

It was fixed at RM9.50 per kg during the Deepavali celebration; it was then lowered to RM9.30 during the Malaysian Family Maximum Price Scheme (Dec 7 to 31); and again to RM9.10 for Feb 1 to 4.

"The new retail price of chicken is covered through government subsidy until production costs become stable,” he said.

Nanta said the ministry was committed to maintaining the National Food Security Policy supply guarantees as well as avoiding price hikes that would burden the people.

The outcome of the Implementation Task Force Meeting on a long-term action plan which will be chaired by the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry soon would be reported at the next Naccol meeting, he added. – Bernama