The government is looking for new ways to ensure consumers are not manipulated by chicken wholesalers and suppliers who hike prices during festive seasons, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

He said a comprehensive solution was needed to ensure the suppliers and wholesalers were more ethical in conducting their businesses.

“The government has taken several initiatives to control the price of chicken, including setting up the MyFarm Outlet with the cooperation of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, by providing opportunities to buyers to buy agriculture products directly, but the price increases keep happening.

“So we will discuss new methods at the ministry level first before taking any action,” he told reporters here today without elaborating on what these ways are.

Hamzah was commenting on the increase in the price of chicken throughout the country which had suddenly gone up to RM10 a kg since last Thursday compared to the ceiling price of RM7.90 a kg.

Hamzah said the ministry would consider the views of all parties to ensure the new methods would not only benefit consumers but would also be fair to suppliers and wholesalers.

Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations deputy president, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said consumers could play a role in helping to reduce the demand for chicken by opting for other food items such as fish and vegetables.

“We know that the demand for chicken goes up during the festive season and we do not know if this increase is due to the latest virus infection on livestock.”

The increase on chicken prices has been connected to the infectious bronchitis (IB) epidemic or chicken throat infection – which is still unconfirmed.

A similar opinion was voiced by the chief activist of the Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association, Datuk Nadzim Johan, who advised consumers not to buy chicken when prices increased.

“At these times, do not buy chicken or reduce buying. Consumers must be smart in making adjustments in current times.

“Especially with the spread of diseases affecting chicken, it puts consumers at risk,” he said, adding that the public must show their consumer power so that traders do not take advantage of them.

Meanwhile, the owner of Subang Ayam Segar Enterprise – Mohd Shafie Nasip from Kampung Melayu Subang, Shah Alam – said he was also affected by the increase in chicken prices from wholesalers as the demand from consumers during this year’s Aidilfitri had increased to 1,000 from 700 last year.

“The price now is RM6.40 per kg for live chicken. Usually, it is less than RM6 per kg. As a retailer in a rural area, I cannot increase the price too much as the consumers will complain and it is difficult for us traders to fix the price.”

Operating manager of Dinding Poultry Development Central Sdn Bhd Chua Han Peng said the IB disease could be in certain areas, and there were middlemen who benefited from the current situation.

He added that so far, the company’s chickens were not affected as there was a certified veterinary doctor who monitored their health.

“The Veterinary Department also conducts constant checks to ensure that the livestock are in the best condition, ready for export to wholesalers.”

He added that the company supplied 80,000 processed chicken to factories throughout the country daily.

Resource: The Rakyat Post