KUALA LUMPUR: Many consumers expressed satisfaction with the reduction of the standard price of chicken by 20 sen to RM8.90, as announced by the government recently.
Single mother Cornelia Jadlocon, 58, is glad that the government intervened to control the price as she buys her groceries at the market.
"As a single mum, every sen counts.
"I think it is a good move as during the pandemic, many people were affected by a loss or reduction in income, including myself. I do not have a high salary, so it really helps," she said.
Zafran Muhaimin, 21, a student who goes to a local supermarket to buy necessities for his family, also noticed the price difference.
He said any price drop would help him and his family because there were eight people in his family.
"My parents are the only ones working. It is worrying that a lot of expenses are increasing.
"Knowing that the prices of a few basic items have dropped will help us financially."
Hemavanan Krishna Kumar, 26, a customer service officer, said the price drop had helped him.
He said he appreciated the effort by the government to help alleviate some of the burden faced by the people.
However, he believed that the price was still high for B40 families.
"But for me, the money saved can be used for other expenses."
Checks at hypermarkets and supermarkets found that operators have been imposing the price of RM8.90 per kg for chicken.
Customers were seen checking their chicken before deciding to buy.
Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd's managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin welcomed the government's move to provide a subsidy to enforce the ceiling price for standard chicken.
He said this was a win-win situation for consumers and sellers.
However, he said, the focus should now shift to ensuring the supply of chicken was stable.
He visited some of his competitors in Terengganu and found lower supplies of chicken there.
"The government should investigate and make sure the supply is stable.
"If not, the price control will not be helpful. People will find it difficult to even buy one chicken even though the price is cheaper than before," he said.
The National Action Council on Cost of Living meeting on the food production industry last month, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, announced that the maximum retail price for standard chicken would be reduced by 20 sen to RM8.90 from the fixed ceiling price of RM9.10.
The price control is effective from Feb 5 to June 5 this year.
This was the third time the price of chicken was reduced after it was fixed at RM9.50 per kg during the Deepavali celebration, RM9.30 during the Malaysian Family Maximum Price Scheme (SHMKM) (Dec 7 to 31, 2021), and RM9.10 during SHMKM (Feb 1 to 4). By Mohamed Basyir and Caroline Gan