GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has welcomed the action taken by the government to stabilise the price of goods as decided during the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) meeting on Jan 31.
CAP was present during the meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and was given the opportunity to put forth its opinions.
"We welcome the government's decision to set the ceiling price of chicken at RM8.90 even though the government will have to provide subsidies to cover the cost for consumers.
"We have a positive opinion on the government's decision to maintain the price of Grade A, B and C eggs according to the current Malaysian Family Maximum Price Scheme.
"We believe the government should be monitoring, as well as receiving complaints from consumers if it is found that a trader is raising their prices," CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said today.
On the other hand, Mohideen said consumers must use the correct channel if they wanted to reveal a trader who was trying to profit.
"We support the assertiveness and the intervention by the government even though poultry farmers requested that the price of chicken at the farm be increased; something that certainly influenced the market price of chicken to exceed RM10 per kilogramme.
"We believe that the government needs to seriously look into producing livestock within the country to avoid the issue of importing from overseas animal-based foods that are expensive.
"We also believe that allowing hypermarkets to import whole chickens from overseas with compliance requirements especially focusing on halal status, freshness as well as cleanliness, is only a short-term measure. The best approach will be to strengthen local production sustainably," he added.
CAP, said Mohideen, agreed with the government in directing the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC), an agency under the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, to conduct continuous studies and investigation to ensure that there were no price cartels as well as manipulation by middleman in the poultry (production and supply) industry.
"This includes hastening research related to chicken feed alternatives to ensure that the country is not threatened by the price of corn, soya beans and medicine which currently are 100 per cent imported from overseas.
"We also recommend that the government re-evaluate land use, with emphasis given to the issue of basic food production. Dependence on food imports must be addressed immediately," he said.