By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 9: The Malaysia government is currently reviewing the removal of subsidies for chicken eggs grade A, B and C with a proposal submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
In a news report by NST, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu stated that the potential savings from these cuts could be redirected to more critical areas in the agro-food sector.
“Ending the egg subsidies could save the country up to RM100 million. It is time for the ministry to reevaluate the subsidy given for chicken eggs grade A, B and C,” he said in his speech at the ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.
His Deputy Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup and the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak were also present.
Mohamad revealed that the proposal is under review, and if approved, could soon phase out these subsidies.
Last year, the Malaysia government spent over RM900 million on chicken egg subsidies.
Mohamad pointed to the removal of chicken subsidies on Nov 1 last year, a move initially criticised but later proven effective.
“When we made the decision to end the chicken subsidy, many feared it would lead to skyrocketing prices. However, prices remained stable, and the country saved RM100 million each month as a result,” he explained.
Mohamad emphasised that the termination of chicken subsidies had not disrupted market stability, with prices and supply remaining steady.
“At the start of my tenure, there was a shortage of chickens and eggs. Now, farmers tell me that prices are too low. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we no longer hear complaints about lack of chicken and egg supplies,” he added.
In addition, Mohamad announced the formation of a special committee, led by Isham, to address the country’s self-sufficiency rate (SSR) for meat, which remains below 20 per cent.
This initiative is part of the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030, aimed at ensuring adequate meat supply. — DayakDaily
