BUTTERWORTH: The government will not hesitate in imposing the Maximum Price Control Scheme for chickens, just as it did during the festive season, if the price of poultry continues to see a drastic increase.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the ministry would set the maximum price for chickens if there was a necessity to do so.
He said the ministry had been receiving complaints about the increase of chicken price in several markets in various parts of the country, including Penang.
He said enforcement officers were investigating and monitoring the situation on the ground.
"We want to warn everyone, from the breeders to the wholesalers and traders, not to simply increase the price of chickens.
"If this situation persists, we will not hesitate to implement the Maximum Price Control Scheme for chickens," he said after a visit to the MSM Prai Bhd factory, here, this afternoon.
Alexander, who is on a two-day official visit to the state, the first since he became a minister, was given a tour of the sugar factory and briefed on its operations.
Earlier, he also visited markets here to monitor the price of chickens.
Elaborating, Alexander said there was a RM2 increase in the chicken price per kg in markets here, with the price of the poultry even reaching up to RM10 per kg in some cases.
This year's Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP), in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, saw the maximum price for chicken fixed at RM7.50 per kg.
Alexander said he managed to speak to some of the traders and were told the increase of chicken price was at the level of the breeders and wholesalers (middleman).
"From what we were told, the traders themselves are only making a small profit margin.
"As such, we urge the breeders to sell some portion of their produce directly to the traders, without having to go through middlemen, to keep the cost low," he added.
He also warned that action could be taken against those who simply hiked up their prices, in line with relevant laws.
Since last month, there has been an increase of chicken price, especially here.
Retailers claimed they had to pay a higher price to suppliers after being told of a shortage in supply due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Meanwhile, Alexander assured that sugar supply was sufficient and there was no need for anyone to resort to panic buying.