JOHOR BARU: The supply of chicken across the country is sufficient until the Aidilfitri celebrations at the end of April, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
He said consumers need not worry about chicken supply.
"I have received detailed information from the Veterinary Services Department. Officially, the data shows that there is enough supply until Aidilfitri," he told reporters after distributing dates to visitors and traders at the Taman Perling Ramadan bazaar here on Sunday (March 26).
Salahuddin said ministry enforcement officers have been instructed to tighten monitoring throughout the month of Ramadan until after Aidilfitri.
"My advice to traders is if the government still sets a control price or ceiling price for chicken which is RM9.40 (per kg), I hope it will be followed.
"If they are dealing with supply issue or need help from the ministry, we are ready to help," he said
Meanwhile, in KUALA TERENGGANU, the ministry admitted that there had been a drop of up to 33% in the supply of eggs in the state during the month of Ramadan due to a shortage from out-of-state suppliers.
State ministry director Saharuddin Mohd Kia said it is estimated that people in Terengganu consume one million eggs per day and the supply received is around 600,000 eggs but decreased in Ramadan to only around 400,000 eggs.
"There are no egg farms in Terengganu, which gets its supply from farm operators in Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor and Perak.
"The feedback received from the egg wholesalers stated that the main factor behind this sudden drop is due to lack of eggs received from farm operators. It is due to the increasing demand for eggs during Ramadan and the farms prioritise their own local market first," he said in a statement on Sunday.
Saharuddin said purchases above the normal rate by consumers, micro, small and medium enterprise operators and Ramadan bazaar operators also caused certain outlets to run out of eggs earlier before the next shipment arrives as scheduled. – Bernama
