We need long-term solutions, says Fomca

In demand: Customers buying chicken at a hypermarket in Bandar Sunway. — SS Kanesan/­The Star

PETALING JAYA: Long-term solutions are needed to resolve the issue of supply of chicken and its prices, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).

Fomca president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason, who welcomed the government’s four strategies to resolve the issue, said long-term plans were needed to end the problem, not knee-jerk measures.

“Abolishing the Approved Permit (AP) of chicken is good, but the government needs long-term planning on our food supplies.

“We have the Department of Statistics Malaysia which releases statistics on our population every year, so we need to know the demand (for chicken) and its projection,” he said in an interview after the government announcement yesterday.

Farmers and breeders, he said, should also be given help to expand the industry so that the country’s food production could be increased.

“Provide them with attractive business loans so they can develop their businesses, and I am not talking just about chicken farming but other food industries as well,” he said.

Marimuthu also said the Malaysian agricultural sector needed to produce more vegetables, onions and chilli.

Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd (Mydin) managing director Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin said the business community was very happy that the government was taking immediate measures, not only to address the chicken shortage but also the problem of cartels.

“This is not something new and we are happy that the government is taking the bull by the horns. The Prime Minister is being firm to make sure that things are being sorted out,” he added.

He also said the amount of government subsidy to chicken farmers to enable the chicken price to be stabilised was still low, adding there were groups which were trying to “control the chicken prices”.

Ameer also lauded the government’s decision to stop exporting chicken.

“Many countries like India have stopped exports of certain food items when they are facing shortages at home, such as onions.

“The country also halted exports of wheat even though it is the second-largest producer of the commodity in the world.

“I think it’s good that we are doing similar measures, because as what the Prime Minister said, the rakyat comes first and charity begins at home,” he said.

Ameer also called on the government to allow more imports of halal chicken and beef products, which are approved by the halal certification bodies, of the respective countries.

“We can do it for other products such as cosmetics and canned food. So why can’t we use the same method to approve the imports of chicken and beef?” he asked.