KUALA LUMPUR: Chicken and egg prices should be floated at a reasonable rate to create a win-win situation for consumers, farmers and suppliers, says the Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders Associations.
Its president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said the float should be carried out meticulously and monitored to prevent any parties from taking advantage, as well as to make sure that domestic supply meets demand.
“You can float the price but you should be cautious not to set the ceiling too high. At one point, chicken prices were floated to over RM6 but then we had to (exceed) the price due to supply shortage.
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“So if we are going to float (prices) again, we need to look at all aspects to see if it benefits everyone or just one group," he said in a recent interview.
He added that the floating mechanism should be consistent to help traders control the prices of products sold to the public.
“Don’t do it (indecisively) because the people will not be happy about the fluctuating prices,” he added.
Rosli also suggested that the government hold dialogues with local farmers’ associations to get their views on reasonable price float rates before going ahead.
“We don’t want the government to make a decision without consulting the farmers because chickens need food, and chicken feed is expensive as it is imported, so we must be fair to them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam and Klang Bumiputera Night Market Traders Association president Kamarul Nizam Razak said floating the prices of chicken and eggs is a good move because it ensures a continuous supply from producers.
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“If it’s not floated, there is always a lack of stock, and it’s challenging to do business.
"Even if there is a slight price increase after it’s floated, I think it can still be accepted... as long as the overall supply is not adversely affected,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2024 last week, announced that the temporary price controls for eggs and chicken would be lifted as current trends indicated the supply of both was now stable.
He said the move would enable the local market to function freely in ensuring sufficient supply and that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry will announce the details in two weeks.
Anwar also said the floating of prices was one way to ensure that only eligible citizens, not foreigners or the wealthy, benefitted from subsidies. – Bernama
