Some consumers have recently switched to buying frozen chicken at the market rather than fresh chickens to save up on household expenses as the cost of living rises. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
SERDANG: The price of chicken can be much lower than the previously set controlled price of RM9.40 per kg, even after subsidies and price control are discontinued from today, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The acting Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said industry players had assured the government that there would not be a surge in chicken price.
“After implementing it for 20 months, we see that with the industry’s assurance, we can float the price of chicken. The industry players have also guaranteed that the supply will be sufficient and they are able to sell it at a lower rate than the controlled price,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) Open Day here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Earlier, the government had set the ceiling price for chicken at RM9.40 per kg.Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced on Monday that the government had agreed that subsidies and price control for chicken would be fully terminated starting today, while subsidies and price control for grade A, B and C eggs would remain according to the existing mechanism.
Mohamad said the rationale for ending subsidies in bulk for chicken is to reduce subsidy leakage which has been enjoyed by foreigners and the high-income group.
