KOTA KINABALU: Sabah would seek an exemption should the Federal Government end the subsidy for chicken eggs in grades A, B and C, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
“That is our request,” said Kitingan, who is both Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I and state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu yesterday said the government is considering ending the egg subsidy to save RM100mil a month, which could be redirected to developing other critical aspects in agro-food sectors.
Kitingan said both Sabah and Sarawak still need subsidies, as they were still lagging behind compared to other states in Malaysia.
“It is not fair, especially since we contribute (to the nation’s economy) significantly.
“Still, we need to be prepared to increase our production and capabilities so that our people are no longer trapped in poverty,” he said at the launch of the Sabah STAR Moyog division office in Donggongon, Penampang, yesterday.
In another development, Kitingan said Sabah is hoping for an allocation increase under the Budget 2025 to boost its agricultural activities.
“We need a bigger budget to make a real impact. If the funding remains unchanged, we won’t be able to introduce the necessary improvements,” he stressed.