Master at work: Nadarajah slicing up mutton for customers at a market in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
BUTTERWORTH: Mutton, a favourite for Deepavali feasts, is cheaper this time around, much to the delight of Hindu celebrants.
A. Parvatyamma, 59, from Taman Merak in Simpang Ampat, said her eyes widened after she found out that imported mutton was about 20% cheaper than last year at a local market.
“I bought it for RM48 per kg last year and it is now RM38 per kg.
“Such savings are significant during festivals because there are 11 people in the family.
“Every year, we would gather at home to feast together during the festival and mutton curry is an absolute must,” she said yesterday.
For chicken and other cooking ingredients, Parvatyamma said there was little change in prices.
At a Bukit Mertajam market, 61-year-old butcher K. Nadarajah said he could still make a profit selling imported mutton at RM36 per kg compared with RM40 per kg last year.
“The price is after the meat is cleaned with excess fats trimmed off, so it is a good deal,” he said.
For those who yearn for local goat meat, Nadarajah said the price has been unchanged for several years, which is RM60 per kg.
Despite the price drop, Nadarajah, who has been a butcher for almost 50 years, said he has not seen any surge in demand yet.
“Some have started shopping for Deepavali but there hasn’t been any increase in demand.
“With the rising cost of living, perhaps consumers are cautious on their spending and are not splurging to buy more than necessary,” he said.
Chicken seller Nur Hafidzin Jamil Noor Zihad, 34, said the price of chicken went up five times since last month.
“It has now increased from RM8.80 to RM9.60 per kg.
“We are told the next price hike from farms will be another 30sen before Deepavali,” he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry director S. Jegan said officers from the department have been conducting spot checks on supplies and prices at various markets and stores on a regular basis to ensure compliance.
“We do daily checks at different locations to monitor supply and pricing.
“So far, there are no shortages detected and we found no irregularities,” he said, adding that checks would intensify as Deepavali approached.
Earlier, Consumers’ Association of Penang urged the government to consider having Deepavali Rahmah sales as prices of some items were found to have skyrocketed.
Its senior education officer NV Subbarow claimed that some butchers were selling mutton at RM100 per kg.
He said prices for other items, such as 1kg of gingelly oil, increased from RM15 to RM21, and garlic from RM6 to RM14 per kg.
