SEMENYIH: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has not received any reports of increased prices of chicken after the subsidies and price controls on chicken were lifted on Nov 1.
Acting minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali however said isolated cases of price increases have occurred in some areas.
As such, he said, the ministry's enforcement officers have been instructed to go to the ground and monitor the traders.
"Our enforcement officers will go down when complaints are made to monitor and inquire with specific traders.
"For example, in Labuan, one case reached the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), and the Prime Minister immediately contacted us to resolve the issue. In one wet market in Labuan, chicken was being sold at up to RM12.90 (per kilogramme).
"The Prime Minister was concerned, and when we engaged, indeed, it was being sold at RM12.90.
"When we asked about the issue (such as production costs), eventually, the next day, the price was lowered."
Armizan also said that monitoring by enforcement officers from Nov 1 to yesterday in Peninsular Malaysia, found that the cheapest price of standard cleaned chicken was RM5.79.
"However, some traders are selling at a high price of RM10.50. For example, in Mentakab, Temerloh, and at the Matang Public Market in Perak."
For Sabah, he said that the lowest price was RM10, while the highest was RM13.90.
"Sabah is somewhat unique. What is abundant and famous in the market are not standard chickens but super cleaned chickens. The lowest is RM10, and the highest is sold at RM13.90.
"In Sarawak, for example, there are some selling at lower prices, RM9.90, and the highest is RM18.90. RM18.90 in Lawas and Limbang is due to logistics and supply issues," he said.
Armizan assured that they would continue to engage with traders in the Limbang and Lawas areas regarding these prices.
"Our intervention strategy is to expand the Rahmah and Agro Madani sales programmes.
"We will ensure that areas with chicken supply issues are increased to allow the community, especially those with limited means such as B40 and M40, to access chicken supplies at reasonable prices," he said.
Earlier, Armizan presented Deepavali donations to the Jayaa Sri Welfare Organisation, here.
Also present were Domestic Trade and Cost of Living deputy minister Fuziah Salleh, the ministry's enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam and Hulu Langat member of parliament Mohd Sany Hamzan.
