Many relieved with government’s move to control chicken price

GEORGE TOWN: Although it wasn't something they had hoped for, many families still consider the new ceiling price for standard chicken at RM9.40 per kg as a positive move to cushion the impact of inflation.

Newspaper deliveryman M. Mohana Sundaram said although the new chicken price is too high for him, he feels it is a timely move by the government not to float the price.

"The new ceiling price for standard chicken for me is expensive but I accept it because had the government decided not to control it, it would have been pricier," he said.

The 52-year-old father of three said he hoped that the government would find a new solution to lower the price of chicken soon.

Housewife Jamaliah Nasir, 47, said she is grateful that the government decided to control the price of chicken but hopes it can be made cheaper in the future.

"It is still costly but at least it didn't go up until RM13 per kg like what was speculated earlier," she said.

She said considering that the price of many basic items had increased lately, the new chicken ceiling price has allowed consumers to cushion the high cost of living.

In a statement on Wednesday, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the government decided to set the new ceiling price of standard chicken at RM9.40 per kg in Peninsular Malaysia.

The Cabinet also decided that the retail price of Grade A eggs will be set at 45sen each; Grade B (43sen) and Grade C (41sen).

Chicken breeder Muhammad Sufi Jamil, 32, said the government should regulate the price of chicken feed so that the middlemen would do not manipulate the pricing.

"I still feel it is best if government allows market forces to determine the price of chicken feed based on supply and demand," he said.

He said it was important for the government to stabilise the market of raw materials used to produce chicken feed which contributes directly to the price of chicken.

Meanwhile Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the Federal Government must find a new mechanism to control the price of chicken and other livestock products.

"Increase enforcement to monitor traders and warn them not to increase the prices of their food items," he said.

He said there should be no sudden increase of food prices especially at restaurants, food stalls and school canteens after the new ceiling price of chicken takes effect tomorrow.