The steep increase of chicken bran from RM800 to RM1,400 per one tonne is believed to be one of the primary factors of increased poultry price in Perak recently.
According to the Executive Councillor for Domestic Trade and Consumerism, National Integration and Civil Society, Dato’ Abdul Yunus Jamahri, the price hike was traced to a wet market in Gopeng recently, where poultry is sold at RM11.50 per kg.
“We had been informed of the issue a few days ago and the price increase is happening at a national level.
“In Perak, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has conducted operations to check on the prices of poultry and there are indeed a few places that sell them at a rather high price.
“Apart from wet markets, certain supermarkets are selling poultry at RM5.90 per kg.
“Another contributing factor is perhaps understaffed chicken farms that had to hire local workers at higher wage rates, which in turn increased their farm operation costs.”
He told reporters during a media session after monitoring the price ceiling of COVID-19 rapid antigen self-test kits being sold at a shopping mall here in Ipoh today (September 14).
Abdul Yunus added that the supply of chicks had also experienced a price hike previously, which resulted in a number of chicken farm operators having reduced purchase of chicks.
“As such, there were reductions in poultry supply which also caused prices to hike.
“KPDNHEP is probing into the issue of sellers seizing the opportunity of the increased prices.
“The ministry is always monitoring and finding ways to stabilize the market price of poultry, and thus, an issue like this may not last long,” he added.
Chris Teh
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