PUTRAJAYA: The factors causing the price hike of chicken must be addressed to ensure the interests of consumers and industry players are protected.
Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said there must be a balance between food production cost and retail price for consumers.
"Even though the pricing issue is under the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and (my ministry) is not involved, there must be balance.
"There should be a fair price that would benefit all parties and a high price tag will burden Malaysians.
"At the same time, the factors that affect prices at the farm level must be considered by all parties," he told reporters after announcing the Special Farmer Investment Schemes dividend distribution at Wisma Tani here today.
Kiandee said the factors causing price increases must be studied as it is often interrelated with the price hike of chicken feed.
"We must study what are the factors causing the price hike, whether it is caused by the logistics of the food component for the chicken as well as the procurement of the chicks and others.
"Any product from abroad that is subject to world market price fluctuations will affect the price in our market, such as the animal feed components as corn; soybean and others.
"It depends on the import market price, the price of animal feed, so we are subject to the price of the imported feed component.
"Therefore, we must take action that benefits everyone," he said.
Yesterday, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry detected a price hike of standard chicken from RM8.39 per kg to RM8.46 per kg based on its daily Price Alert report on Monday.
The ministry also inspected 605 premises selling standard chicken across the country and found 47 premises increased prices while three were selling at lower prices.
It also found the average standard chicken was being sold at RM8.39 per kg and the premises selling at the highest price was in Pasar Gopeng, Kinta Perak, at RM11 per kg.