PETALING JAYA: Christmas is not looking very merry this year with an acute shortage of halal turkey expected in December.
The avian flu is hitting imports from the United States while a temporary suspension of imports of a certain kind of turkey has also taken a toll on the market supply.
A shipment of frozen turkey is stuck in Port Klang because clearance has not been given while suppliers who have stock are also charging exorbitant prices.
“No turkey this year. There is a halal issue. Nobody will import,” said a seller who declined to be named.
“If you want to buy, you need to get it from Singapore, Thailand or Indonesia.”
A leading food product importer said in a memo to customers that it was unable to get official clearance for the release of its shipment of frozen turkey, which arrived in Port Klang in October.
The company said it had sought help from government agencies and the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, but had not been successful.“In view of the above, we would understand if you want to cancel bookings with us,” it said while apologising to customers.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Christina Toh confirmed the supply shortage for frozen halal-certified turkeys, saying that hotels would have to find other alternatives for Christmas meals.
She said the shortage was also due to the prolonged lockdowns, adding that this was a global situation and that Malaysia had another extra layer of red tape – the halal certification.
Local supply is limited as the birds are not widely reared in Malaysia.
An Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry spokesman said local production was insufficient with just 11,987 birds in 2020.
“Instead of turkey, we may have roast chicken with Christmas stuffing,” Toh said.
MAH Melaka chapter chairman Khairulnizam Kasim said it would be unfair if there was no turkey on the table during the Christmas season.
Outside suppliers, he said, were also charging very high prices.
“We are all trying our best to source for the birds. MAH will appeal to the relevant authorities to address the shortage.”
Khairulnizam said local suppliers claimed that the avian flu had affected imports from the US.
When contacted, a local supplier said he was trying very hard to get the birds and had made requests for halal turkey from Australia.
“There is an acute shortage this year,” he said.
Melaka unity, community relationship, human resource and consumer affairs committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said he would raise the matter with the Veterinary Services Department, Customs and other relevant departments.
“We have to find an alternative to import the birds in a bid to meet the demand this Yuletide,” he added.
