GEORGE TOWN: The government's initiative to subsidise egg prices should be viewed as a temporary measure, given that long-term subsidies are not sustainable.
The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) said while it supported efforts to lower food prices, it urged the government to address Malaysia's deeper, long-standing food security challenges.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said Malaysians consumed over 940 million eggs per month, making eggs a vital and affordable protein source with versatile culinary uses.
He said with the reduction in egg prices, it was essential for retailers to adhere to approved pricing.
"Consumers can report non-compliant retailers to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
"As Malaysians continue to consume substantial quantities of eggs, consumers have expressed hope that more essential food items will be subsidised, leading to corresponding price reductions in food outlets.
"The government must address Malaysia's deeper, long-standing food security challenges. Food issues have been plaguing Malaysia since the 1980s, when the country began to sideline agriculture in favour of industrialisation and the service sectors.
"Therefore, Malaysia needs to urgently revive its agricultural sector to ensure food security for the nation," he said today.
It was reported that the retail price of grade A, B and C eggs across the country was reduced by three sen per egg effective Monday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the retail price for grade A, B and C chicken eggs would now be 42 sen, 40 sen and 38 sen respectively.
He said the provision of subsidies of 10 sen per chicken egg involved an expenditure of RM100 million, and in 2023, the government spent RM927 on subsidies for chicken eggs.
Mohideen said poultry farmers relied heavily on imported feed, which constituted 70 per cent of the total cost of raising chickens.
He said to stabilise feed prices, it was crucial to invest in local feed production.
"Malaysian higher education institutes have conducted extensive research on producing cost-effective and nutritious animal feed.
"Utilising this research can reduce dependency on imports and support local agriculture.
"Moreover, poultry farmers should consider decreasing their reliance on imported breeding chickens from the European Union and the United States," he added.
Meanwhile, Mohideen said while subsidies for other essential food items are also necessary, CAP opposed subsidies for sugar due to Malaysia's high diabetes rate, the highest in the Western Pacific region and among the highest globally.
He said the average household sugar consumption is estimated at 2.6kg per month, contributing significantly to this health issue.
