KUCHING, March 24: The retail prices of chickens and eggs have been capped for five months until June as part of the Federal government’s efforts in ensuring essential goods remain affordable to lighten the people’s burden in the face of the rising cost of living.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasised that among the decisions achieved in two separate special meetings by the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) was to extend the Keluarga Malaysia Maximum Price until June 2022.
“Under the scheme, the maximum retail price for standard chicken has been reduced by 20 sen to RM8.90 in Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah, Sarawak and Langkawi according to localities.
“The price of eggs that was lowered until Feb 4 has been extended until June 4,” he said in a reply to a question from Senator Datuk Wira Koh Nai Kwong at Dewan Rakyat today.
To stabilise the cost and supply of chickens in the market, he informed that the government has also given approval to import frozen round chicken.
Apart from that, Nanta added that RM100 million have been allocated to implement the Keluarga Malaysia Sales Programme in 222 parliamentary constituencies, with additional allocations approved to carry out Cooking Oil Price Control Mechanism Programme to ensure adequate and availability of subsidised cooking oil in the market.
“Other initiatives include empowering fair price shops, involving cooperatives in the agriculture industry to offer agriculture products to consumers without middlemen as well as the issue of labour shortage in the agriculture sector,” he said.
The Federal government, Nanta gave assurance, was serious about continuing to formulate and refine medium and long-term strategies to reduce prices on essential goods that are increasingly burdening consumers.
“KPDNHEP is always concerned with the issue of price increases, availability and adequacy of supply in the market.
“As the Minister of KPDNHEP, I always urged our Enforcement Division as well as Price Monitoring Officers to go to the ground to carry out monitoring and inspection regularly to ensure traders comply with all rules and regulations.
“This is not only important to protect the interests of consumers, but the government also wants to ensure that no trader conducts their business activities unhealthily by taking unreasonable profits,” he said.
Nanta also call on all consumers to report to KPDNHEP via proper channels provided if they come across any unethical business practices. — DayakDaily
