Piles of poultry: A butcher displaying the price for ‘super chicken’ at Subang Jaya. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Dip in business with fluctuating prices since removal of subsidies, say traders
JOHOR BARU: It’s been quite a seesaw in the price of chicken from the beginning of this month when subsidies were removed.
Firdaus Abdullah, a chicken seller at the Larkin wet market, said he is selling standard chicken at RM10.50 per kg, which is RM1.10 more than the previous ceiling price of RM9.40.
“Since the government floated the price of chickens on Nov 1, the price of the birds has increased, first by 50sen, then 30sen and another 30sen.
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“In the initial few days after the subsidy removal, the price dipped a little but it gradually rose, especially before Deepavali.
“We expect the price to go up at least twice before the year ends, with Christmas coming up soon,” he said.
He claimed that the price of chickens was set by the suppliers and sellers like him only earn a marginal profit to avoid charging consumers too much.
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He said he also noticed that customers have been buying chickens in smaller quantities in the past few months.
“It is tough for me to sell 100 chickens on weekdays and I have to depend on the Sunday crowd to sell about 200 birds,” said Firdaus, 35.
Subsidies and price controls on chicken were lifted by the government on Nov 1.
Before the subsidy removal, the price of standard chicken with head, feet and internal organs, was RM9.40 per kg while “super chicken” – those without head, feet and internal organs – was RM10.40 per kg.
In Seremban, a kilogramme of chicken can be between RM7.50 and RM12, depending on where it is sold.
Checks at the main wet market showed that chicken was sold for RM9.40 per kg. Those who want the bird to be cut into smaller pieces will be charged an additional RM1.
One stall owner set the price at RM12.
A trader, who has been in business for 30 years, said the price had been hovering around RM9.40 per kg since it was floated.
“Whenever we increase the price even slightly, the matter will find its way to the newspapers and social media.
“So, the average price has been RM10.40 per kg inclusive of labour charges,” he said.
He said business dipped slightly as some hypermarkets, supermarkets and frozen food outlets were selling the bird for RM8.40.
“Since they get their supply directly from the farms, they are able to sell cheaper.
“Because of this, we are seeing fewer customers at the wet market.
“Business has been slow; as you can see, there are not many customers here despite it being a Saturday morning.”
Negri Sembilan entrepreneurship, human resources, climate change, cooperatives and consumerism committee chairman S. Veerapan said the demand for chicken in the state has been stable.
“We are not expecting any shortage till the Chinese New Year period next year at least. We have a stable supply,” he said.
He added that some hypermarkets even sold the bird for as low as RM7.50 while supermarkets sell it from RM7.90 per kg.
In George Town, fresh chicken sellers foresee a possibility that the price may rise during the year-end festive season.
Trader Amiruddin Abdul Wahab, 26, said in his five years of business at the Batu Lanchang Market, the lowest he sold whole chicken was at RM8 per kg.
“Today, the cost price itself for whole chicken is RM8.
“All traders here have agreed to maintain a price of RM9.40 per kg as previously set by the government and we hope the price will remain.
“But now with the price floated, I foresee that price will increase in the upcoming festivals due to higher demand.”
Amiruddin said their prices were dependent on suppliers, who set the prices.
In Kuala Lumpur, checks at hypermarkets and supermarkets yesterday found that regular chickens were priced between RM7.69 and RM9.90.
The standard chicken in the market is offered without feet, head, liver and gizzard.
